Court System

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How is the Dickinson County Court system organized?

The Legal Process       Common Legal Terms

Prosecuting Attorney
The Prosecuting Attorney* is an elected official with a four-year term as provided by the Michigan Constitution and is independent of the Michigan Attorney General.. Elections occur at the time of the Presidential election, on the partisan ballot. 

Office location: 300 East D Street (Lower Level)  Iron Mountain, MI  49801 (906) 774-1294  
Mailing address is PO Box 609, Iron Mountain MI 4980

          Lisa Richards, Prosecuting Attorney * elected November 2020
          Kristin Kass, Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
          Alex Sieminski, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
          Connie Larson, Victims' Rights Advocate 
          Julia Papp,  Legal Assistant
          Valerie Ochs, Deptartment Assistant
          Keri Meneghini, Clerical Assistant

Friend of Court (FOC)

Michigan law created the Friend of the Court system in 1919. At least one friend of the court office serves each circuit court's family division. The Friend of the Court was established to "protect dependant minor children and to compel enforcement of chancery decrees where there are minor children in divorce cases, who are liable to become public charges and are not properly cared for by their custodians, and to enforce the payment of amounts decreed them in a court of chancery, and to enforce all interlocutory and decretal orders." The Friend of the Court (FOC) assists the court with custody, parenting time, and child support issues. Among other things, the FO investigates and makes recommendations about custody, parenting time, child support, and medical support; helps parents settle disputes during and after their case; makes sure parents obey court orders about custody, parenting time, and child support; gives people court forms for some family law issues.

Office location: 300 East D Street (Lower Level)  Iron Mountain, MI  49801  (906)-774-2833 
Mailing address is PO Box 725, Iron Mountain MI 4980 
 
Heidi Ford, Friend of the Court department head
Hannah Waugen, Department Assistant
Celeste Calo, Child Support Investigator/ Paternity 
Liane Arnold, Child Support Investigator

All courtroom locations are at 705 S. Stephenson St. Iron Mountain, MI 49801

Generally, Circuit Courts are trial courts that handle civil cases seeking damages of more than $25,000; all felony criminal matters; personal protection order matters; and all family matters. Family matters include custody, divorce, paternity, and child support cases, among others. Circuit Courts also handle appeals from District Courts and some administrative agencies.

        41st Circuit Court   Phone: (906) 774-2266
        Honorable Mary Brouillette Barglind, Chief Judge
        Honorable Christopher S. Ninomiya, Circuit Judge

Generally, District Courts handle the following matters: landlord-tenant cases; land contract disputes; misdemeanor criminal offenses; civil lawsuits (less than $25,000); small claims cases ($6,000 or less); civil municipal infractions; civil traffic infractions; and civil weddings.  

        95B District Court   Phone:  (906) 774-0506
        Honorable Julie A. LaCost, Chief Judge
Probate court is a segment of the judicial system that primarily handles such matters as wills, estates, conservatorships, and guardianships, as well as the commitment of mentally ill persons to institutions designed to help them. When wills are contested, for example, the probate court is responsible for ruling on the authenticity of the document and the mental stability of the person who signed it. The court also decides who receives which portion of the decedent's assets, based on the instructions in the will or – barring that – other laws in place.

Dickinson County Probate Court    (906) 774-1555
Honorable Thomas D. Slagle, Chief Judge 
Transcripts: Transcripts are available directly from the Court Recorder/Reporter from the judge handled the case.
Court Forms: The State Court Administrative Office has a self help center.

Every year in April the county puts out Juror questionnaires.  These questionnaires must be filled out and sent back to the Dickinson County Clerks office within 10 days.  The questionnaire will then be reviewed by the Jury board.  You will be disqualified, or qualified to be a juror due to the questionnaire. When you are qualified you are put on the list of jurors that are picked randomly to serve on juries throughout the year.  The time you are on this juror list runs from August to September (for one year), in which time you are qualified or disqualified to serve the next year.

What if I don't want to serve on a jury?  Please note, if you are qualified to serve on a juror board and feel you cannot serve, you will have an opportunity to state that in court if you get called to serve. 

What If I don't return my questionnaire? If you do not return your questionnaire, your name is put on a list and sent to the judge for review as to consequences.