Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Oakland County Document Format Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Viewers may not record or otherwise copy court proceedings.

Viewers are prohibited from recording or otherwise copying court proceedings.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Preliminary jury instructions must be submitted on plain paper without case-law citations at least one week before trial.

Preliminary jury instructions must be submitted to the Court on plain paper, without citation to case law, no later than one week prior to the scheduled date of trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Preliminary jury instructions must be submitted on plain paper, without case-law citations, at least one week before trial.

Preliminary jury instructions must be submitted to the Court on plain paper, without citation to case law, no later than one week prior to the scheduled date of trial.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

The Court will not consider oral requests for emergency motions.

Oral requests for an emergency motion will not be considered.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Parties may not combine all exhibits into one PDF.

Parties may not provide every exhibit combined into a single PDF document.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Documents, photographs, and non-audio/video exhibits must each be submitted as individual PDFs.

The parties shall submit all documents, photographs, and non-audio/video exhibits in individual PDF documents.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Plaintiff must label exhibits with numbers and Defendant must label exhibits with letters.

Plaintiff shall label exhibits using numbers and Defendant shall label exhibits using letters.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

For Zoom trials or evidentiary hearings, screen sharing is prohibited and each party must provide advance physical exhibit copies to all listed recipients.

In the event of a trial or evidentiary hearing conducted via Zoom video conference, screen sharing is prohibited and each party is responsible for providing physical copies of exhibits to all persons stated above in advance of the trial or hearing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

The Court strictly enforces MCR 2.119(A)(2), including its requirements concerning page limits, font size, and spacing.

The Court additionally strictly enforces MCR 2.119(A)(2), including but not limited to page limitations, font size, and spacing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Format

PAPER

Preliminary jury instructions must be on plain paper, 14-point font, one instruction per page, and double-spaced.

Preliminary jury instructions must be submitted to the Court on plain paper, 14 point font, one instruction per page, double spaced, without citation to case law, no later than noon of the business day preceding the scheduled date of trial.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Dispositive motions follow Michigan Court Rules without a scheduling order; exceeding the page limit requires prior permission, judge’s copies of summary-disposition pleadings are requested, and pleadings must comply with Michigan Court Rules format requirements.

Dispositive Motions: Judge Grant follows the Michigan Court Rules for the scheduling of dispositive motions (no scheduling order will be issued.) Prior permission must be given by the Court to exceed page limit (see MCR 2.119(A)(2). A judge’s copy is requested of all summary disposition pleadings. The pleadings' format must comply with the Michigan Court Rules.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL

Preliminary jury instructions must be submitted on plain paper in 14-point font, one per page, double-spaced, without case citations, by noon on the business day before trial.

Preliminary jury instructions must be submitted to the Court on plain paper, 14 point font, one instruction per page, double spaced, without citation to case law, no later than noon of the business day preceding the scheduled date of trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

The Court may, in its discretion, hold trials and evidentiary hearings in person rather than virtually.

All trials and evidentiary hearings may be held in-person and not conducted virtually at the Court's discretion.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

The Second Settlement Conference will be in person, and pre-settlement conference briefs may be required.

The Second Settlement Conference will be conducted IN PERSON and pre-settlement conference briefs may be required.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Driving, eating, and smoking are prohibited during virtual court sessions.

Driving, eating, and smoking are all strictly prohibited while in session.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Litigants attending court remotely must be alone in a well-lit, distraction-free private space.

Litigants must be alone in a room/private space that has good lighting and free from all distractions to attend Court.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Children may not attend unless the Court expressly requests their attendance.

Children are not permitted unless expressly requested by the Court.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Attorneys are expected to participate in only one Zoom court appearance at a time.

Attorneys are expected to only have one court appearance via Zoom at a time.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

The Court may conduct trials and evidentiary hearings, including PPO hearings, in person rather than virtually.

Trials and evidentiary hearings, including PPO hearings, may be held in-person and not conducted virtually at the Court's discretion.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

The Second Settlement Conference is in person, and pre-settlement conference briefs may be required.

The Second Settlement Conference will be conducted IN PERSON and pre-settlement conference briefs may be required.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Plaintiff exhibits must be labeled with numbers and defense exhibits with letters.

Exhibits shall be labeled as follows: Plaintiff – numbers; Defense – letters.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Zoom participants at motion hearings should use a screen name containing their full name and case number.

When appearing via Zoom for a motion hearing, please ensure that your screen name includes your FULL name and the case number for which you are appearing.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Remote participants must behave and dress appropriately and professionally, but suits and ties are not required.

The call is a court proceeding and therefore an extension of the courtroom. Appropriate conduct and attire is expected and required.Although suits and ties are not required, one should look and act professionally and presentably.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Remote participants must use a private, quiet place without interruptions and should avoid lighting conditions that create a bright background.

Remote participants must use a private and quiet place that will be free of interruptions.Also, video meetings require good, consistent lighting, so avoid rooms with windows or bright lights in the background.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Remote participants must place mobile devices on a solid surface with the camera at eye level, not hand-hold them or lay them flat.

Remote participants must place their mobile devices on a solid surface with the camera at eye level.Do not hand-hold mobile devices and do not lay phones or tablets flat on a desk or tabletop!

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Stipulated exhibits must be marked with numbers for the Plaintiff and letters for the Defendant before trial starts.

All stipulated to exhibits must be marked with numbers (Plaintiff) and letters (Defendant) prior to the start of trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Parties may not combine all exhibits into a single PDF document.

Parties may not provide every exhibit combined into a single PDF document.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Proposed exhibit filenames must follow the specified party-and-exhibit identification scheme.

The file names of proposed exhibits shall only contain the following information: “Plaintiff’s Ex. 1.pdf,” “Plaintiff’s Ex. 2.pdf,” “Defendant’s Ex. A.pdf,” or “Defendant’s Ex. B.pdf,” etc.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Audio and video exhibits must use the specified formats and the document filename scheme.

Audio files should be in .mp3 or .m4a format while video files should be in .mp4 or .mov format and conform to the same file naming scheme as documents.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Plaintiff must identify exhibits with numbers, and Defendant must identify exhibits with letters.

Plaintiff shall use numbers and Defendant shall use letters.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Exhibit stickers are required on physical exhibits but not on each digital exhibit.

Exhibit stickers are not needed on each digital exhibit but are required for all physical exhibits.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Non-confidential proposed exhibits should be appended to the motion, using sequential numbers for Plaintiff and sequential letters for Defendant.

Non-confidential proposed exhibits should be appended to the motion filing with Plaintiff using sequential numbers and Defendant using sequential letters to separate each exhibit.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

The court may dismiss motions with a generic title such as “motion.”

Motions titled “motion,” or containing a substantially similar title, may be dismissed by the court.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Audio exhibits should be .mp3 or .m4a and video exhibits should be .mp4 or .mov, using the required document filename scheme.

Audio files should be in .mp3 or .m4a format while video files should be in .mp4 or .mov format and conform to the same file naming scheme as documents.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Digital exhibits do not need exhibit stickers, but physical exhibits must have them.

Exhibit stickers are not needed on each digital exhibit but are required for all physical exhibits.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Non-confidential exhibits should be appended to the motion filing, with plaintiff exhibits numbered sequentially and defendant exhibits lettered sequentially.

Non-confidential proposed exhibits should be appended to the motion filing with Plaintiff using sequential numbers and Defendant using sequential letters to separate each exhibit.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Format

DOCX

Proposed jury instructions and verdict forms must be submitted in electronic Word form.

Each party shall submit a copy of proposed jury instructions and verdict forms to the Court at least 7 days before trial in both paper (delivered to chambers) and electronic (Word) forms.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Electronically produced documents are presumptively to be produced in native format with load files preserving all metadata.

Presumptively, all documents produced electronically shall be produced in native format and with the load files preserving all metadata.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

A deposition may not exceed one day of seven hours.

A deposition may not exceed one day of seven hours. MCR 2.306(A)(3).

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Electronically produced documents presumptively must be provided in native format with load files preserving all metadata.

Presumptively, all documents produced electronically shall be produced in native format and with the load files preserving all metadata.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Plaintiff exhibits must be labeled with numbers and defense exhibits with letters.

Exhibits shall be labeled as follows: Plaintiff - numbers; Defense - letters.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Plaintiff must label exhibits with numbers and Defendant must label exhibits with letters.

When labeling exhibits, Plaintiff is to use numbers and Defendant is to use letters.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Format

DOCX

The jury instructions provided to the Court must be in a Word document.

The parties shall jointly provide the Court, in a Word document, a FULL COPY of the JURY INSTRUCTIONS, fully filled-in (and ready to be printed for the jury) via valentinechambers@oakgov.com and nemera@oakgov.com.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

A witness permitted to testify remotely by Zoom must have a hard-wired fast internet connection.

If the Court does allow a remote Zoom Witness, he/she MUST have a hard-wired fast internet connection.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Confidential material must be conspicuously designated; paper may be marked on the first or applicable pages, and electronic designation must not alter metadata or may be placed on the storage medium.

A producing party may designate any document or other tangible information or thing as “Confidential” by conspicuously stamping or appending the appropriate designation. In the case of a paper document, a producing party may so mark the first page of a multipage document or each applicable page. In the case of an electronic document, a producing party may append to that document the appropriate designation that does not alter the metadata associated with the document or may place the appropriate designation mark “CONFIDENTIAL” on the outside of the medium (whether disc, hard drive, etc.) containing the document.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING

All criminal matters, including motions, are scheduled in person.

All criminal matters (including motions) are scheduled in person.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026INFO

Court proceedings may be conducted in person or by video teleconferencing.

The Court conducts court proceedings in-person and through video teleconferencing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026INFO

Civil cases

The parties are encouraged, subject to MCR 2.306(A)(3), to agree on deposition number, length, timing, location, and sequencing.

Subject to MCR 2.306(A)(3), the parties are encouraged to agree upon a limitation on the number and length of any depositions, including the timing, location and sequencing of those depositions that will best serve the speedy, just and efficient resolution of the matter.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Public viewers must mute themselves and turn off their video.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

The file names of proposed exhibits shall only contain the following information: “Plaintiff’s Ex. 1.pdf,” “Plaintiff’s Ex. 2.pdf,” “Defendant’s Ex. A.pdf,” or “Defendant’s Ex. B.pdf,” etc.

Summary: Proposed exhibit filenames must use only the party designation and exhibit number or letter.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Plaintiff shall use numbers and Defendant shall use letters.

Summary: Plaintiffs must number exhibits and defendants must identify exhibits by letter.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Jury instructions are due one week prior to trial and must be delivered to chambers in a 3-ring binder.

Summary: In criminal cases, jury instructions must be delivered to chambers in a three-ring binder.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Members of the public who wish to observe a live Zoom proceeding may do so anonymously by joining the Zoom meeting using the screen name “Public.”

Summary: Public observers may join live Zoom proceedings anonymously using the screen name “Public.”

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Format

PDF

The court can accept files in .pdf, mp3, .m4a, .mp4, and .mov formats.

Summary: The court accepts files in PDF, MP3, M4A, MP4, and MOV formats.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Format

PDF

The court can accept files in .pdf, mp3, .m4a, .mp4, and .mov formats.

Summary: The court accepts PDF, MP3, M4A, MP4, and MOV files.