Judge Paul J. Cusick
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Motion, Response
- At Least 5 Business Days Before Hearing
- Upon Filing
Adjournments
- To adjourn a summary disposition motion, the moving party must request a new date from the Judicial Attorney, then e-file a re-notice; adjournment praecipes must not be submitted.
- Attorneys may stipulate to one adjournment from Track I to Track II; further adjournments require a motion.
- Settlement-conference adjournments must be requested from the court clerk; if granted, counsel must e-file a stipulated order with the new date.
- +2 more
Request must include
- Attorneys may stipulate to adjourn the first settlement conference by up to 90 days if they are willing to facilitate.
- Without a stipulation, a settlement conference may be adjourned one to two weeks, only on a Wednesday or Thursday morning.
Document Format Requirements2 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Each jury instruction must occupy a separate page, use 14-point font, and be case- and gender-specific.
Each instruction must be on separate page, in size 14 font, case specific, and gender specific.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Exhibits must be tabbed and labeled with numbers or letters.
All exhibits must be tabbed with numbers or letters.
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
The stipulated order must identify the facilitator, give a facilitation date within 90 days of the originally scheduled first settlement conference, and state the new conference date obtained from the clerk.
The stipulated order must include: (1) the name of the facilitator; (2) the date of facilitation (within the 90 days of when the first settlement conference was scheduled); and (3) the new settlement conference date (obtained from the court clerk).
Document Type
Stipulated Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Joint pretrial orders must be filed in advance as ordered.
Joint Pre-Trial Orders shall be filed in advance as ordered.
Document Type
Joint Pretrial Order
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
The stipulations must include the date of facilitation, and the date of discovery cutoff.
Summary: Stipulations opting out of case evaluation must state the facilitation date and discovery cutoff date.
Document Type
Stipulation
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Counsel must schedule motions with clerk. A Praecipe is required.
Summary: Counsel must schedule motions in limine with the clerk and submit a praecipe.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
By 12:00pm Thursday before trial, counsel must deliver two hard copies to courtroom and email a copy to court clerk.
Summary: Counsel must deliver two hard copies of joint jury instructions to the courtroom and email a copy to the clerk by noon on the Thursday before trial.
Document Type
Joint Jury Instructions
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Instructions shall include separate indexes for "Preliminary Jury Instructions" and "Final Jury Instructions," and list the JI number and title.
Summary: Joint jury instructions must have separate preliminary and final indexes and list each instruction’s JI number and title.
Document Type
Joint Jury Instructions
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
By the first day of trial, counsel must deliver two hard copies to the court and email a copy to the judicial attorney.
Summary: Counsel must deliver two hard copies of the jury verdict form to the court and email a copy to the judicial attorney by the first day of trial.
Document Type
Jury Verdict Form
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Shall be stipulated to by parties in advance.
Summary: The parties must stipulate to the jury verdict form in advance.
Document Type
Jury Verdict Form
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Parties may e-file an order the same day or after it is approved as to form and signed by all parties under the seven-day rule.
Parties may e-file order on the same day or when order is approved as to form and signed by all parties under 7 day rule. MCR 2.602(B).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Judges Copies
The court uses e-filing, and filers are directed to register through the stated portal.
The Third Circuit Court is an e-filing Court. Register for e-filing here: https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/register
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Self-represented litigants
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Motions in limine must be filed at least three weeks before trial and will be heard on a Friday before trial.
Motions in limine (when heard): Must be filed at least three weeks before trial, and will be heard on any Friday prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Trial — Motions in limine
Facilitation must be completed by the date case evaluation was set unless a motion for extension is filed.
The facilitation must be completed by date case evaluation was set unless a motion for extension was filed.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Opting out of Case Evaluation
Stipulated orders opting out of case evaluation must be filed within 120 days of the first responsive pleading.
Stipulated orders must be filed w/in 120 days from the 1st responsive pleading pursuant to MCR 2.403 (A)(3).
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Opting out of Case Evaluation
Summary disposition motions must be e-filed within 28 days after notice of trial and at least 21 days before the hearing unless otherwise ordered.
Time: Must be e-filed no later than 28 days after notice of trial and a minimum of 21 days before the hearing date unless otherwise ordered.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Summary Disposition Motions
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The courtroom must receive judge’s copies at least five business days before the hearing.
The Courtroom MUST receive all judge’s copies at least FIVE business days prior to hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Summary Disposition Motions — Judge's Copies
Parties must file a judge’s copy of every motion and response.
Parties must file JUDGE’S COPY of all motions and responses. MCR 2.119(A)(2).
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Judges Copies
The court requests courtesy copies of all motions and responses in appeals.
The Court requests a courtesy copy of all motions and responses.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Appeals — Additional requirements
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Disagreements about jury instructions must be submitted in a motion before trial.
Any disagreements regarding JI shall be submitted in a motion before trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Trial — Joint Jury Instructions
Parties who miss the court-rule time limits for opting out of case evaluation must file a motion.
Parties must file a motion if they are beyond the time limits put forth in the court rule.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Opting out of Case Evaluation
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Attorneys may stipulate to adjourn the first settlement conference by up to 90 days if they are willing to facilitate.
Attorneys may stipulate to adjourn the first Settlement Conference up to 90 days provided they are willing to facilitate.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Settlement Conference Procedure — Adjournment of settlement conference
Without a stipulation, a settlement conference may be adjourned one to two weeks, only on a Wednesday or Thursday morning.
If no stipulation, then may adjourn one to two weeks only on Wednesday or Thursday mornings.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Settlement Conference Procedure — Adjournment of settlement conference
To adjourn a summary disposition motion, the moving party must request a new date from the Judicial Attorney, then e-file a re-notice; adjournment praecipes must not be submitted.
Moving party must contact the Judicial Attorney to request new date. E-file a Re-Notice of hearing after new hearing date is given by judicial attorney. Do not submit adjournment praecipes.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Adjournment of Motion for Summary Disposition
Further settlement-conference adjournments require a motion.
A motion is required for further adjournments.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Settlement Conference Procedure — Adjournment of settlement conference
Settlement-conference adjournments must be requested from the court clerk; if granted, counsel must e-file a stipulated order with the new date.
Adjournment must be requested from court clerk. If granted then a stipulated order with new date must be e-filed by counsel.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Settlement Conference Procedure — Adjournment of settlement conference
Attorneys may stipulate to one adjournment from Track I to Track II; further adjournments require a motion.
Attorneys may stipulate to adjournment from Track I to Track II, but for additional adjournments a motion must be filed.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Status Conference — Adjournment of scheduling orders
To request an appeal adjournment, call the court and submit the parties’ stipulation.
Adjournment policy: Call court and submit stipulation of parties.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Appeals — Adjournment policy