District Commissioner

About the role

The Research Division of the Michigan Court of Appeals seeks qualified candidates for the position of District Commissioner. The District Commissioner prepares legal memoranda, proposed orders, and proposed opinions for judges; reviews filings for jurisdictional defects and compliance with the Court rules; and responds to questions posed by the judges, court staff, and the general public. These tasks are performed under the supervision of the Chief Commissioner.

Responsibilities

• Review leave applications and original action pleadings for jurisdictional defects and compliance with the court rules and the Court’s internal operating procedures; submit jurisdictionally deficient filings for administrative dismissal, and advise parties of outstanding deficiencies in the filings.
• Review motions for immediate consideration to determine whether the timelines for answering and submission to the motion panel should be shortened and communicate the answer and submission deadlines to litigants and judges.
• Prepare reports and proposed orders for submission to the regular motion panel on a weekly basis and to special motion panels as circumstances warrant.
• Prepare memoranda and proposed orders for submission on the Court’s administrative docket.
• Respond to complex written and verbal inquiries from the Court’s judges and staff and assist pro se filers and attorneys at the public counter and over the telephone.
• Monitor the flow of applications and original actions from filing to the entry of orders, which requires a regular and weekly review of management lists. Ensure the Commissioner’s Office remains current on priority and nonpriority matters.
• Work with the docketing assistants to ensure timely and accurate docketing, prompt submissions to the judicial chambers, and timely contact with practitioners as needed to resolve issues with missing or incomplete records and deficiencies in the filings.
• Track production of reports, memoranda, and time spent on special projects and submit weekly output reports to the Chief Commissioner.

Requirements

A Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school. Five or more years of experience with an appellate court, a trial court, or a law firm; two years of experience with the Court of Appeals preferred.

Qualifications

At present, the Research Division offers a hybrid work option, allowing employees to work remotely up to three days a week. The candidate selected for the position must reside in Michigan on or before their first day of employment.