Michigan State Court Administrative Office
From Judgepedia
The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) of Michigan is the administrative agency of the Michigan Supreme Court. Article VI, Section 3 of the Michigan Constitution States that the Michigan Supreme Court "shall appoint an administrator of the courts and other assistants of the supreme court as may be necessary to aid in the administration of the courts of this state." The Supreme Court has administrative oversight of Michigan's courts and exercises that oversight through the SCAO.[1]
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Overview
SCAO is charged with helping Michigan trial courts operate effectively so that they can serve the public. SCAO's activities include:
- Collecting data on courts' caseloads, including the types of cases each court hears and how long it takes the court to resolve cases;
- Mediating disputes between courts and their funding units or other government officials and agencies;
- Providing technological assistance, including computer hardware, software, and training;
- Assessing whether individual courts need more or fewer judges and sharing that information with the Legislature;
- Providing continuing education, including publications, for judges and court staff in a wide variety of areas;
- Educating the public about the judicial branch;
- Assigning judges and retired judges to fill in temporarily for an absent judge;
- Issuing statewide policy for court operations, such as case reporting requirements and time guidelines for deciding cases;
- Helping courts improve collection of court-imposed fines, fees, and costs, much of which goes into state funds and to local governments;
- Assisting friend of the court offices with training and technical support;
- Offering legislative changes to improve the administration of justice, and reacting to legislation that would affect the courts;
- Overseeing courts’ involvement in various child welfare issues, and offering ways to improve courts’ handling of cases involving children who are or may become court wards;
- Providing training and other support for local community dispute resolution centers throughout Michigan.
Offices and Programs
The individual services and resources provided by the State Court Administrative Office are as follows:[2]
- Board of Law Examiners
- Child Welfare Services
- Court Reporter and Recorder Certification Program
- Foreign Language Interpreter Certification Program
- Foster Care Review Board Program
- Friend of the Court Bureau
- Judicial Information Systems
- Learning Center
- Michigan Judicial Institute
- Office of Dispute Resolution
- Regional Offices
- State Court Administrative Office
- Supreme Court Clerk's Office
- Trial Court Collections
- Trial Court Services
