Circuit Court

37th Judicial Circuit Court

Address	Calhoun County Justice Center 161 E. Michigan Avenue Battle Creek, MI 49014-4066 Click here for directions
Phone	(269) 969-6530
Fax	(269) 969-6663 (Administrative only, not for document filing)
*Hours*	8:00 am - 12 noon and 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Click here for the holiday schedule

For additional information on Calhoun County Courts, click here.

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. Calhoun County constitutes the 37th Judicial Circuit and currently has four Circuit Judges.

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 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, juvenile offenses, 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.

Appeals - General Civil - Criminal Division

Judges

ALLEN L. GARBRECHT	Chief Circuit Judge	(269) 969-6506
JAMES C. KINGSLEY	Circuit Judge	(269) 969-6502
STEPHEN B. MILLER	Circuit Judge	(269) 969-6510

Administration

JEFFREY S. ALBAUGH	Court Administrator/FOC	(269) 969-6523
TINA COOK	Administrative Services Mgr.	(269) 969-6523

Judicial Staff

Judge Garbrecht
TERRI LAVEGLIA	Judicial Clerk	(269) 969-6506
VAL BANASZEWSKI	Court Services Officer	(269) 969-6507
Judge Kingsley
ROSE BEEBE	Judicial Clerk	(269) 969-6502
HELEN REPAIR	Court Services Officer	(269) 969-6503
TAMI SMITH	Court Reporter	(269) 969-6504
Judge Miller
JACKIE HOWIE	Judicial Clerk	(269) 969-6510
CAROL REMUS	Court Services Officer	(269) 969-6511