Tuscola County Courts

Michigan Judicial System

Michigan's concept of "One Court of Justice" was introduced in 1963 by Article VI, Section 1 of the Michigan Constitution.  Under this principle the judicial system functions as an integrated unit consisting of one supreme court, one court of appeals, one trial court (known as the Circuit Court), and several trial courts of limited jurisdiction.

Each court performs a certain role within the judicial system according to the jurisdiction given to it by the Michigan Constitution or Legislature. This jurisdiction is further outlined in various Michigan statutes and briefly described on the following pages. In addition to establishing "One Court of Justice", the Michigan Constitution authorized the appointment of a state court administrator to assist courts with administrative duties and tasks.

The state is divided into 57 judicial circuits along county lines. The number of judges within a circuit is established by the Legislature to accommodate required judicial activity. Tuscola County constitutes the 54th Judicial Circuit and currently has one elected Circuit Judge and one sitting by assignment.

The Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Michigan. The court has jurisdiction over all actions except those given by state law to another court. The court has original jurisdiction in all civil cases involving more than $25,000, all criminal cases where the offense involves a felony or certain serious misdemeanors, and in all domestic relations (FOC) cases, including divorce and paternity.

The legislature created a Family Division in Circuit Court effective January 1, 1998. The Family Division handles divorces and ancillary matters, custody, parenting time, paternity (FOC), juvenile offenses (Juvenile Division), and abuse and neglect. It also handles emancipation of minors, personal protection orders, name changes, adoptions, parental consent waivers, guardianships (ancillary), and mental health commitments (ancillary). Circuit Court also hears appeals from district court, probate court and administrative agencies.

Circuit judges are elected for terms of six years in nonpartisan elections. A candidate must be a qualified elector, a resident of the judicial circuit, a lawyer, and under 70 years of age. Judicial salaries are set by the Legislature.

Tuscola County Courthouse History

Peter DeWitt Bush (1818-1913), the second permanent resident of the village of Caro, donated the site for the village courthouse square in 1866. Then he, along with two other pioneer settlers, moved an old frame church to the site to serve as the county's first courthouse. In 1873 the county replaced the former church with a brick courthouse that served the community's needs until 1932, when the present Art Deco style structure was completed. Designed by Detroit architect William H. Kuni and built by Cecil M. Kelly, a Caro native, the courthouse is faced with Indiana limestone. Situated on the same site as the old brick courthouse, this $180,000 structure was completely paid for when it was dedicated on January 24, 1933, by means of a one-mill, five-year tax levy.

The courthouse dates back to 1866, when an old Universalist Church was moved into Caro from Almer Township. This tiny facility served its purpose until 1873, when Bush donated land for a $15,350 building to be constructed on it. It was 58 years before anyone would even talk about erecting a new courthouse, and in 1933 the present courthouse was completed at a cost of $180,000