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Judge Matis has returned to in-person proceedings, unless otherwise indicated. In compliance with the recommendations of the Oakland County Health Department, masks are not required to be worn in the courtroom. Individuals may wear a mask if they feel more comfortable and in fact, the Court will provide one if necessary. Please see court staff upon your arrival should a mask be needed.
In order to better serve the attorneys and litigants appearing in Judge Matis's courtroom, the following guidelines have adopted by the Court. Please advise your clients and staff so that there are no misunderstandings. Obtain a copy of the Protocol.
Judge Matis’s courtroom is open to the public. For all civil and criminal hearings, litigants and their attorneys may appear in person even when a hearing is scheduled for a Zoom appointment. In person appearance is required for criminal pleas and sentencing.
Oakland County Courthouse
Courtroom 4B, Fourth Floor
248-858-0368
Judge Matis participates in the Electronic Data Management System. All civil cases, appeals and criminal pleadings are to be electronically filed. It is your responsibility to become aware of, and comply with, the eFiling requirements.
The Case Management Office issues an initial scheduling order for all civil cases. The Court permits a first adjournment extending scheduling order dates for a total of 60 days by stipulation and order. Requests for subsequent scheduling order adjournments or requests for a lengthier extension of time must be made by motion. Such requests are not routinely granted; good cause must be shown.
Parties may choose to appear for Motion Call via Zoom or in person, unless otherwise indicated by the Court.
Except with leave by the Court or as otherwise described herein, motions are scheduled pursuant to the local court rules and are heard on every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Parties must praecipe motions for any Wednesday of their choice (including orders for show cause) at least one week prior to the chosen Wednesday. Absent good cause, the Court declines to hear add-ons. The judge takes the bench promptly at 8:30 a.m. Parties are expected to complete an order in accordance with the judge’s ruling before leaving the courtroom or if the parties are appearing by Zoom they are expected to submit an order comporting with the judge’s ruling promptly after conclusion of the hearing. If you expect to be more than 15 minutes late, you must call chambers immediately to inform the staff. If the moving party of a praeciped motion has not checked in with the Court Clerk by the time the case is called, the Court may dismiss the motion. If the non- moving party has not checked in by the time the case is called, the clerk shall call the case upon the request of the moving party and the Court may grant the requested relief, if appropriate. A Judge’s copy of all motions and responses is appreciated.
Participants are reminded that all virtual court appearances are an extension of the courtroom; therefore, parties must adhere to proper conduct and appropriate attire is required. Viewers are prohibited from recording, streaming or otherwise copying or distributing court proceedings.
Any motion responses must be filed in accordance with the Michigan Local Court Rules. Any late filings will not be considered.
Only the moving party may adjourn their motion. Chambers must be notified by the moving party when a motion is adjourned by 4:00pm on the Tuesday prior to the hearing date. Filing a re-Praecipe and re-Notice of hearing alone does not give notice to the Judge's chambers.
When filing a motion for summary disposition, the notice of hearing shall provide “a date and time to be determined by the Court.” A judge’s copy of any motion for summary disposition, brief in support, and all attachments thereto are appreciated. Upon filing, the Court will issue a scheduling order (providing briefing deadlines and a hearing date), to schedule your dispositive motion. The moving party must file a praecipe for the assigned date. Motions which exceed the page limit will be rejected. Late filings will be rejected. A judge’s copy is appreciated for all summary disposition pleadings. Any questions regarding summary disposition motions should be directed to the Judicial Staff Attorney, Carmen Lyon at lyonc@oakgov.com.
A judge’s copy is required. Unless the Court otherwise indicates, no hearing will be scheduled, and no response is required.
A request for an emergency hearing may be submitted anytime. To be considered, a written motion explaining the request must be submitted to the Court. Oral requests for an emergency motion will not be considered. The moving party shall e-file the written motion and then email judicial staff a copy of the motion. The individuals to be emailed are identified below:
Follow court rules for license restoration and district court appeals.
The Court strictly adheres to MCR 3.310 and will only grant ex-parte relief in accordance with the court rules. The Court may accelerate the briefing schedule for motions for a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction if good cause is shown.
All matters are scheduled for in-person, unless otherwise indicated by the Court.
Criminal call will be held weekly on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. The Judge takes the bench promptly at 8:30 a.m. Attorneys are expected to check in with the clerk prior to 8:30 a.m. If you expect to be more than 15 minutes late, you must call chambers to inform court staff. If you need to leave the courtroom for any reason, you must inform the clerk and then sign out on the whiteboard. If you fail to inform the clerk and your case is called while you are absent, you should expect to go to the end of the list. Attorneys should not check-in with the Court until the client has arrived. Chambers will not arrange stand-in coverage for any attorney. Those arrangements will need to be made by the assigned lawyer.
Arraignments by mail are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact chambers to determine if one will be accepted in your matter.
All adjournment requests must be submitted by stipulated order. Adjournments will only be considered for good cause. Faxed orders will not be considered.
All motions on criminal cases must be filed and heard at least three weeks prior to the scheduled trial date. Please notice and praecipe your motion(s). Late filings will not be considered.
All sentencing memoranda must be filed at least three days prior to sentencing.
Proposed orders must be accompanied by a verified motion & brief with supporting authority, proof of certified address, postal verification, affidavit of process server (or reason why one cannot be given) showing at least 3 attempts (service on individuals, these 3 attempts must be during times which a working individual would reasonably be expected to be at home).
Proposed orders must be accompanied by supporting authority, summons expiration date, verified motion & brief, postal verification, proof of certified address, affidavit of process server (or reason why one cannot be given) showing at least 3 attempts (service on individuals, these 3 attempts must be during times which a working individual would reasonably be expected to be at home).
Judge Matis will conduct a settlement conference upon the request of the parties for jury trial cases. The Court holds settlement and final pretrial conferences in-person, unless otherwise indicated by the Court. Trial attorneys, clients, and any insurance representatives with full settlement authority must be physically present or immediately available to be contacted during the settlement conference.
If a matter has settled, the parties shall inform the Court and the judge’s clerk will issue a show cause order. A stipulated order of dismissal must be entered prior to the show cause date or all trial counsel must appear for the scheduled show cause. Failure to appear for the show cause (in the absence of a submission of a dismissal order) will result in the entry of a dismissal and/or default.
Requests to adjourn trial must be made by motion and will be granted only for good cause.
Unless otherwise ordered, the Court conducts trial on the following days: Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The parties are required to exchange and stipulate to exhibits in advance of trial. Exhibits must be marked by counsel prior to trial and a complete set must be submitted to the Court on the first day of trial. Plaintiff/Petitioner is to mark its exhibits with numbers. Defendant/Respondent is to mark its exhibits with letters.
Motions in limine must be filed and praeciped 30 days prior to trial.
The parties are required to exchange and stipulate to pre-trial jury instructions in advance of trial. All such disputes are to be resolved before the morning of trial. Jury instructions are to be submitted without citation of authority or identification of the proponent (please reference the Pretrial Order). Jury instructions are due one week before trial and must be submitted electronically in Word format via email to the following:
The Court conducts initial voir dire but also allows counsel to conduct voir dire. The jury will be charged after closing arguments and will be allowed to take the exhibits and jury instructions into deliberations. Jurors are allowed to take notes.