Hon. Cheryl A. Matthews

Oakland County Courthouse
Courtroom 2C, Second Floor
248-858-0332

Judge Matthews is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Fordham University School of Law. She was elected to the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court bench in November 2004. Prior to her election, she was an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office from 1991 through 2004, serving as Chief of the Child Sexual Assault Section from 1997 to 2004. From 1989 -1991, she was an associate at the law firm of Chadbourne & Parke in New York.

Civil

A scheduling conference may be held in a case of change of venue. Status, settlement, and pretrial conferences may be held at the request of parties or by the Court's order. Telephone conferences are seldom allowed and must be approved in advance by the Court. Instructions for Judge-On-Line. The Court utilizes a final Pretrial Order, filed shortly after issuance of a scheduling order, which includes various pretrial deadlines. The Court encourages and is open to all forms of ADR. Parties are expected to appear on the date and time set for trial if no final order has been entered by 4:30pm on the prior business day or their action will be dismissed.

Criminal

Arraignments, pretrial, sentence, and violation of probation hearings are held weekly on Tuesday at 1:00pm. Parties are expected to utilize the sign-in sheet provided on the clerk's desk. Arraignment by mail (ABM) submission will be considered with good cause showing. Criminal bench warrant arraignments are conducted daily at 10:30am before the chief judge. Call chambers for more information on criminal bench warrants.

Motions are heard weekly on Wednesdays at 8:30am. Cases are called on a first-come, first-serve basis; check in with the clerk. Add-ons are allowed dependent on docket and length of the motion. Parties are encouraged to arrive with proposed orders granting/denying the requested relief.

The Court requires parties to file responses to all contested motions. Failure to file a response may result in the Court dispensing with oral argument. MCR 2.119(E)(3).

Dispositive Motions

Hearings on motions for summary disposition are scheduled pursuant to a separate, independent briefing scheduling order issued by the Court. A hearing date will be scheduled after the motion is filed. A separate motion must be filed to exceed page limit (see MCR 2.119(A)(2)). A judge's copy is required of all summary disposition briefs.

Motion for Reconsideration

A judge’s copy is required. Unless the Court otherwise indicates, no hearing is scheduled and no response is required. (See MCR 2.119(F))

Motions in Limine

Must be filed at least two weeks prior to the date of trial and heard no later than one week prior to the date of trial (dependent on compliance with all other scheduling order provisions).

Motions for Alternate Service

A process server Affidavit indicating the specific attempts at personal service (minimum of three attempts, varied in time and day of week) is required. Specific requirements of the proposed order may include:

1. Certified mail (return receipt requested) to the last known address
2. Posting/affixing to the last known address
3. Publication in the “Oakland County Legal News” for three consecutive weeks; and/or
4. First class mail

Motions for Second Summons

A 45-day (or 60-day) extension will be considered when appropriate. Must show at least one attempt of personal service or sufficient other attempts to accomplish service. A separate motion for each defendant must be filed.

The Court strictly adheres to the Michigan Court Rules, including MCR 3.310(B)(1). Please ensure compliance before such a request is brought.

The Scheduling Order dictates the time for discovery. It can be extended by stipulation.

Adjournments allowed by motion.

The docket is computer-generated. Adjournments are allowed by motion for good cause. Jury instructions and the Verdict Form are due one week prior to trial. All exhibits must be marked and agreed to by the parties prior to the start of trial. Any objections to exhibits should be resolved via motions in limine prior to the start of trial. Exhibits shall be labeled as follows: Plaintiff – numbers; Defense – letters. The Court requires a bench book of exhibits for all trials. Motions in limine must be heard no later than one week before trial or pursuant to an issued scheduling or pretrial order.

Trial days are as follows: Monday 8:30am to 4:30pm; Tuesday 8:30am to 12:00pm; Wednesday 1:30pm to 4:30pm; Thursday and Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. The Court requires proposed findings in bench trials. The Court conducts initial voir dire for jury trials; counsel participates.

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. The jury is charged after final argument. Upon request, the jury may take notes in lengthy matters and into jury deliberations.

*Note: If a civil case is settled prior to trial, an order disposing of the case must be filed prior to the trial date. If no order is filed, the parties must appear on the trial date to place the settlement on the record or the court will issue a dismissal order.

Follow court rules for license restoration; district court appeals as per court rules.

Judicial Staff Directory