1719 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 224-5207

Staff:

Courtroom Clerk: Ms. Kimberly Clifton (Kimberly.Clifton@3rdcc.org)
Judicial Assistant/Law Clerk: Ms. Taylor Seals (Taylor.Seals@3rdcc.org)
Court Reporter: Ms. Manuwella Jones (Please call (313) 224-0409 for information re: transcripts.)

**Instructions for Zoom Hearings/Meetings:
1. Go to http://www.3rdcc.org/zoom/civil 
2. Scroll down to Judge Gibson's name and click "Join Meeting"
3. Re-name yourself, if possible. Phone numbers are discouraged.
4. Use the time in the Waiting Room to check your audio.
5. If you are having issues, you may email or call court staff.

If you cannot access the above link you may go to www.3rdcc.org, look for the red bar at the top of the page & click “Zoom Virtual Meetings” then “Civil”. Scroll down to Judge Gibson’s name and click “Join Meeting”.

For telephone access (no video) call 1-646-876-9923 then enter Meeting ID 842 876 2673. The password, if requested, is “171900”.

Upon logging in you will automatically be placed in Judge Gibson's Waiting Room. As this is a Court proceeding, professional decorum is expected for ALL Zoom Hearings including, but not limited to, appropriate dress, background view, and NO eating, drinking or gum chewing during the proceedings. Please limit all background noise, distractions and third-party interactions. THERE IS TO BE NO RECORDING OF ZOOM HEARINGS.

On Fridays the Motion Call is scheduled to begin @ 9:45 a.m. You will be admitted then immediately invited to a Breakout Room in order to check-in with the Court Clerk. Afterward, you will be returned to the Waiting Room until your matter is called.

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN & CLICK ON "COURT PROTOCOL" TO ACCESS MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION & INSTRUCTIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE SCHEDULING OF MOTIONS BEFORE THIS COURT.

Thank you.

907 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

2 Woodward Ave.

Detroit, MI 48226-3413

Phone: (313) 224-0250 - Court personnel are available by phone but prefer any non-emergency matter be handled via email to our courtroom clerk (roderick.byrd@3rdcc.org) or our judicial attorney (rola.khanafer@3rdcc.org).

Staff:

Judicial Attorney: Rola Khanafer (rola.khanafer@3rdcc.org)

Courtroom Clerk: Roderick Byrd (Roderick.Byrd@3rdcc.org)

Court Reporter: Reba Hooper

The next available general motion dates are THURSDAY, July 10, 2025 and THURSDAY, July 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. 

For scheduling of motions for summary disposition, please see the full protocols below. 

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Room 1611
2 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226

Phone: 313-224-5487

***REVIEW PROTOCOL PAGE BELOW RIGHT***

 

FOR ALL ADDITIONAL SCHEDULING CONCERNS/ISSUES PLEASE EMAIL:

brian.hodgman@3rdcc.org

Staff:

Court Clerk: Lori Fletcher
Judicial Attorney: Brian W. Hodgman (P76885) 
Court reporter: Reba Hooper

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Room 1411
Detroit, MI  48226

Phone #: (313) 224-5195

Hours: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Staff:

Courtroom Clerk: Linda Woods
Judicial Attorney: Laura McMahon Lynch
Court Reporter: Video Courtroom
Deputy: Walter Armstrong

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Room 1519
2 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226

Phone: 313-224-2474

Staff:

Court Clerk: Deborah Royal
Law Clerk: Jennifer Swanson
Court Reporter: Shelee Beard

CAYMC
Room 1011
2 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48226

Phone: (313) 224-5225

Staff:

Judicial Assistant: Charmaine Ziegeler  -  charmaine.ziegeler@3rdcc.org

Courtroom Clerk: Ebony Upshaw -  ebony.upshaw@3rdcc.org

Court Reporter: Video Courtroom

Want to cancel a motion?? Please email the clerk at ebony.upshaw@3rdcc.org

General motions will be scheduled on Fridays at 9:30am - no hard copy required

MSD motions will be scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - no hard copy required

When filing your MSD motions, please file a praecipe with a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday; the Court will change the date if necessary. 

When filing an MSD motion, please email a copy to charmaine.ziegeler@3rdcc.org   Once received, the JA will prepare a scheduling order.  

Please file your MSD motions before the settlement conference date

Motions for Reconsideration:  after efiling, please email a copy to the JA at charmaine.ziegeler@3rdcc.org

Praecipes are required for all motions, including Motions for Reconsideration

Settlement conferences:   clients may be available by phone

Judge Heise's Zoom ID is: 524 548 9029

At this time, with the exception of trials, Judge Heise is conducting all hearings, motions and conferences via Zoom.

The Court will not provide exhibit stickers.  You may label using numbers or letters

Regarding jury trials, the following applies:

*Judge Heise begins trials at 9:00 am

*Motions in limine must be heard at least two weeks before trial

*Jury instructions and verdict form are due 1 week before trial

*The lawyers will be conducting voir dire

*The JFPTO (which you receive from the JA) is due 1 week before trial

A stipulation is allowed to move from Track 1 to Track 2

A motion is required to move from Track 2 to Track 3

Pro Hoc Vice motions:  When filing your motion please be sure to also file a separate proposed order for signature

To order a transcript, contact Court Reporting Services at (313) 224-0409. 

2 Woodward Avenue
Room 1421
Detroit, MI 48226

Phone Number: (313) 224-2415

Judicial Attorney: (313) 224-6267

Staff:

Courtroom clerk: Tara Hickman 
Judicial Attorney:
Court reporter: Manuwella Jones
Deputy:

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Room 1401
Detroit, MI 48226

Phone: (313) 224-2240

Staff:

Courtroom Clerk: Kimberly Davis
Judicial Assistant: Scott Taylor
Court Reporter: Contact Court Reporting Services at 313-224-0409.

1707 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI  48226

Phone: 313-224-2427

Email:JudgeSmith-Court@3rdcc.org

Staff:

Law Clerk: Lauren Hall
Court Clerk: Kimberley DeLoach
Court Reporter: Manuwella Jones

 COURTROOM PROTOCOL

The Courtroom 1707 is open to the public. Court proceedings are conducted remotely via Zoom Technology or in person at the attorney or party's request or at the court's discretion. All court hearings are live streamed on YouTube.

ZOOM CONNECTION INFORMATION

If you have a conference, motion or hearing scheduled before the Court, go to www.3rdcc.org/zoom/civil and click on the green button labeled "Join Meeting" next to Judge Smith's name.

You will enter the waiting room. Participants' display must include you name, case number and client name. If you need to change your display, you must leave the waiting room and make the change in your Zoom settings. There may be a large number of participants in the waiting room at one time and if you are not properly identified, you may not be admitted into the virtual courtroom without the proper information displayed.

If you have difficulties connecting call 313-224-2427.

COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT

Email is the preferred way to communicate with the Court. Please make sure you include all parties in the case on your email.

The subject line of the email should include the case name and case number. Also include the cellphone number of the contact person, in case Court staff needs to speak with the party.

JudgeSmith-Court@3rdcc.org

*If you call the courtroom, your call may not be answered due to staffing limitations. Please send an email or try your call later.

SETTLEMENT AND STATUS CONFERENCES

Conferences shall be conducted remotely via Zoom unless an attorney or party request an in-person conference or at the court's discretion. Clients do not need to appear via Zoom but must be available by telephone. If it is an in-person conference, parties, adjusters and/or person with the authority to settle the case must be present unless excused by the court.

Parties may file a stipulated order to adjourn settlement conference to attend facilitation. Order shall include the name of the facilitator and date scheduled to facilitate. The settlement conference will be adjourned to a date after facilitation. Stipulated order must be filed at least one week prior to the scheduled conference date.

*The date and time for conferences may change, so parties should check the register of action to confirm the date and time for the conference.

GENERAL MOTION CALL

Judge Smith's general motion call is Friday morning at 9:30am or 10:30am.

Preacipes are required for all general motions.

*If you wish to dismiss or adjourn your motion, please email JudgeSmith-Court@3rdcc.org at least one day prior to the hearing date.

You may confirm a hearing date and time by going to the Court Website at www.3rdcc.org and click on "Zoom Virtual Meeting" in the red box then click on "Civil Division Dockets". Located under Judge Smith's name will be a list of hearing dates and times for that day.

*Hard copies of General Motions are not required.

MOTION FOR SUMMARY DISPOSITION

After you have efiled a Motion for Summary Disposition, email a copy of the motion to the Judicial Law Clerk at  Lauren.Hall@3rdcc.org for a hearing date. The moving party shall file a notice of hearing. A praecipe is not required.

Pursuant to MCR 2.116(G) responses (including briefs) must be filed and served at least 7 days before the hearing and replies must be filed and served at least 4 days before the hearing.  IF THE RESPONSE IS NOT TIMELY FILED, the moving party may file an order granting the motion.

If there is a scheduling conflict, the moving party must contact the Judicial Law Clerk within 14 days for a new date and time.

Parties may file a stipulated order to adjourn a hearing date. Contact the Judicial Law Clerk for new hearing date. The moving party shall file a notice of hearing with the new date and time of the hearing. No praecipe is required.

If the moving party wishes to dismiss the motion, you must contact the Judicial Law Clerk within 3 days prior to the hearing date. If the moving party fails to appear for the hearing without notifying the Judicial Law Clerk, the party and/or the party's attorney may be subject to assessment of costs and penalty under MCR 2.119 (E)(4)(b).

The week of the scheduled hearing, you may confirm the hearing by going to 3rdcc.org, click on "Virtual Meeting" in the red box then click on "Civil Division Dockets". Located under Judge Smith's name will be a list of all hearing dates and time. 

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Room 1101
Detroit, MI  48226

Phone: (313) 224-2447

Staff:

Judicial Assistant: Ross Wenzel
Court Clerk:  Matthew Johnson
Court Reporter: Shelee Beard 
WCS Deputy: Doug Outlaw