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LCivR 3.2 Assignment of cases to divisions

3.2      Assignment of cases to divisions - This district is composed of a Northern Division and a Southern Division. The residence of corporations, partnerships, and unincorporated associations shall be the division where the principal place of business is maintained. The Southern Division comprises the counties of Allegan, Antrim, Barry, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Clinton, Eaton, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Ottawa, Saint Joseph, Van Buren, and Wexford. The Northern Division comprises the counties of Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft. 28 U.S.C. § 102(b). All cases shall be assigned to a division by application of the following order of priorities:

  1. if an action is removed from state court, the division embracing the county in which the case was pending in state court;
  2. in bankruptcy appeals, the division in which the bankruptcy matter is pending;
  3. if the action is local in nature, the division in which the real property is located;
  4. in prisoner civil rights cases, the division in which the claim arose;
  5. the division in which all plaintiffs reside;
  6. the division in which all defendants reside;
  7. the division in which the claim arose;
  8. in a case in which a defendant is an officer or employee of the United States or any agency thereof acting in an official capacity, or under color of legal authority, or an agency of the United States, the division in which an office of a defendant is located; or
  9. the division in which the case is filed.
Date Last Modified: 
January 1, 2019