Judge James M. Maceroni
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Court-wide- Immediately Upon Filing
Adjournments
- A filing party may request an adjournment of a motion by contacting the clerk.
- Adjournment requests for EDSC, status, and settlement conferences may be made by contacting Judge Maceroni’s secretary; approval requires a stipulated order stating the reasons, date to be adjourned, and new date.
- Criminal-matter adjournment requests should be made by contacting the clerk.
- +4 more
Request must include
Communication
Phone
Court-wideDocument Filing Requirements9 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
A trial brief containing a statement of facts, issues, theory of the case, and memorandum of law must be submitted 7 days before trial.
Seven (7) days before trial date submit a Trial Brief containing a brief statement of facts, issues, theory of case and memorandum of law.
Document Type
Trial Brief
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Witness lists identifying actual or probable witnesses must be supplied to the court and all counsel 14 days before trial, including attendance modality and specified information for medical experts.
Fourteen (14) days before trial date, supply witness lists in sufficient number for the Court and all counsel of actual and/or probable witnesses, indicating if in person or by deposition and, if medical experts, the hospital and office where the witness practices and his or her specialty.
Document Type
Witness List
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
A list of exhibits with corresponding exhibit numbers or letters must be provided to the court on the day of trial.
A list of exhibits with corresponding exhibit numbers or letters shall be provided to the Court on the day of trial.
Document Type
Exhibit List
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
For a jury trial, counsel must provide completed typed jury instructions to the court and all counsel, with each instruction on a separate sheet.
If a jury trial, have completed, typed jury instructions for the Court and all counsel. Each instruction must be on a separate sheet.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Objections to depositions must be submitted with supporting law and argument no later than 14 days before trial, with responses due 7 days before trial.
If depositions have objections therein, the parties shall submit to the Judge and opposing counsel no later than fourteen (14) days before trial date the objections with supporting law including argument, with responses filed with the Judge and opposing counsel seven (7) days before the trial date.
Document Type
Deposition Objections
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
Counsel must meet before trial to exchange and review proposed exhibits, and agreed-upon exhibits must be marked as counsel agrees.
All counsel must meet prior to trial to exchange and review proposed exhibits. Agreed upon exhibits shall be marked in any manner agreeable to counsel.
Document Type
Exhibits
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
Counsel may conduct voir dire only as to juror qualifications, bias, and similar matters; case-specific questions are prohibited, and later questions are limited to newly seated jurors.
The Court allows counsel to conduct voir dire, limited to questions regarding a jurors qualifications to sit as a juror, potential bias, etc. Questions specific to the case are not allowed. Questions after the first juror is removed either for cause or for a peremptory shall be limited to the new seated juror/jurors.
Document Type
Voir Dire
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Have all witnesses available for trial.
Summary: All witnesses must be available for trial.
Document Type
Witness Availability
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Be present with client(s) and any other person(s) necessary to effect the disposition of the matter.
Summary: Counsel and clients, together with any other necessary persons, must be present at trial to effect disposition of the matter.
Document Type
Trial Appearance
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
After a complaint is filed in the Clerk’s Office, subsequent pleadings must be filed electronically through the Court’s eFiling website.
After a complaint is filed in the Clerk’s Office, subsequent pleadings must be filed electronically on the Court’s eFiling website: https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | e-Filing
Electronic filing is mandatory for all current e-File cases assigned to Judge Maceroni.
Electronic filing is mandatory for all current e-File cases assigned to Judge Maceroni.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | e-Filing
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The trial brief must be submitted 7 days before the trial date.
Seven (7) days before trial date submit a Trial Brief containing a brief statement of facts, issues, theory of case and memorandum of law.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Motions filed on the day of trial will not be entertained.
Motions on the day of trial will not be entertained.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Counsel must file motions in limine concerning objected-to exhibits at least 14 days before trial.
Counsel must file motions in limine as to exhibits for which there is an objection at least fourteen (14) days prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
All motions in limine and trial motions must be filed 14 days before trial, with responses filed 7 days before the hearing date.
File all motions in limine and/or trial motions with the Judge and counsel fourteen (14) days before trial with responses filed with the Judge and opposing counsel seven (7) days before the hearing date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Deposition objections must be submitted to the judge and opposing counsel no later than 14 days before the trial date.
If depositions have objections therein, the parties shall submit to the Judge and opposing counsel no later than fourteen (14) days before trial date the objections with supporting law including argument, with responses filed with the Judge and opposing counsel seven (7) days before the trial date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Witness lists must be supplied 14 days before the trial date.
Fourteen (14) days before trial date, supply witness lists in sufficient number for the Court and all counsel of actual and/or probable witnesses, indicating if in person or by deposition and, if medical experts, the hospital and office where the witness practices and his or her specialty.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Deposition objections filed on the day of trial will not be entertained.
Objections to depositions filed on the day of trial will not be entertained.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Counsel are expected to resolve anticipated evidentiary and other trial disputes before trial, with unresolved matters heard through a pretrial motion in limine.
Counsel is expected to attempt to resolve prior to trial any expected disagreements regarding the introduction of evidence or any other matter. If these matters cannot be resolved they shall be heard prior to trial via a motion in limine.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Service and Proof of Service Rules
A summons-extension request must include a motion and proposed order, be submitted before the original summons expires, and show due diligence by the plaintiff in attempting service.
Requests to extend the summons must be accompanied by a motion and proposed order and must be submitted prior to the expiration of the original summons. Such requests will only be granted upon a showing of due diligence by plaintiff in attempting to serve the original summons.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | Policies and procedures — Extending summons (Second Summons)
Alternative-service requests must include a verified motion, proposed order, process-server affidavit documenting at least three reasonable service attempts, and postal verification.
Requests for alternative service must be accompanied by a verified motion, proposed order, an affidavit of the process server showing reasonable efforts (at least 3 attempts) to make service of process and a postal verification.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | Policies and procedures — Alternate service
Filing Fees and Waivers
When a Case Evaluation Hearing is already scheduled, the parties must pay a $150 adjournment fee before submitting the order for entry.
If a Case Evaluation Hearing has already been scheduled, the parties must pay the $150 adjournment fee prior to submitting the order for entry.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | Policies and procedures — Scheduling orders
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Subsequent scheduling-order extension requests must be made by motion and will be granted only upon a showing of good cause.
Any subsequent requests to extend the scheduling order dates must be made by motion and only will be granted upon a showing of good cause.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | Policies and procedures — Scheduling orders
A filing party may request an adjournment of a motion by contacting the clerk.
Motions – may be adjourned by filing party by contacting Clerk.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | Policies and procedures — Adjournments
For the first scheduling-order extension request, the court permits a 60-day or 90-day extension by stipulation of the parties.
For the first request, Judge Maceroni will permit a 60-day or 90-day extension of the dates set forth in the Discovery and Case Evaluation Order by stipulation of the parties.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | Policies and procedures — Scheduling orders
Facilitative mediation must occur within 60 days unless the party seeking an extension shows good cause.
The Court requires that facilitation occur within 60 days, unless good cause is shown for an extension.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Policies and procedures — Facilitative mediation
Criminal-matter adjournment requests should be made by contacting the clerk.
Criminal matters – Contact Clerk.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Policies and procedures — Adjournments
Adjournment requests for EDSC, status, and settlement conferences may be made by contacting Judge Maceroni’s secretary; approval requires a stipulated order stating the reasons, date to be adjourned, and new date.
EDSC/Status/Settlement Conferences - requests for adjournments may be made by contacting Judge Maceroni’s secretary. If approved, a stipulated order stating the reason(s) for the request, the date to be adjourned and a new date must be stated in the order.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Policies and procedures — Adjournments
Any additional request to extend discovery or case-evaluation dates must be made by motion and may be granted only by court order.
Any additional request to extend dates must be made by motion, and shall only be granted by order in the discretion of the Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Stipulated Order for First Extension of Discovery and/or Case Evaluation Dates
Chambers Communication Rules
If deposition objections remain unresolved, the parties must contact the judge’s secretary to obtain a hearing date.
If the parties have not resolved the objections, the parties shall contact the Judge’s secretary for a hearing date regarding the deposition objections.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Counsel intending to use media equipment at trial must contact the judge’s secretary before trial to test compatibility with the court’s equipment.
In order to ensure the Court’s media equipment is compatible, Counsel must contact the Judge’s secretary before the day of trial to test any media equipment counsel intends to use throughout trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | ON THE DAY OF TRIAL