Title 600, REVISED JUDICATURE ACT OF 1961

Sec. 1355. With respect to the selection and impaneling of jurors, any examination, challenge, replacement, oath or other practice not otherwise governed by the provisions of this chapter shall be governed by rules adopted by the supreme Court.

Sec. 1371. As used in sections 1371 to 1376, "one day, one trial system" means a system of selection of jurors which incorporates either of the following: (a) A system of jury selection whereby: (i) Jury service is completed when the first trial to which the juror is sworn is con…

Sec. 1372. (1) Sections 1371 to 1376 apply only to those districts of the district court, circuits of the circuit court, and county or probate court districts of the probate court that adopt the 1 day, 1 trial jury system. (2) Any court in this state may adopt a 1 day, 1 trial ju…

Sec. 1375. (1) The secretary of state shall transmit annually, before April 15, to the clerk of each county a full, current, and accurate copy of a list that combines the driver's license and personal identification cardholder lists pertaining to persons residing in the county. A…

Sec. 1376. (1) Upon recommendation of the district court judge or a majority of the judges of a district, circuit judge or a majority of the circuit judges of a circuit, probate court judge or a majority of the judges of the county or probate court district, or a judge of a munic…

Sec. 1401. No bond, deed of conveyance or other contract heretofore or hereafter executed in writing, signed by any party, his agent or attorney, is invalid for want of a seal or scroll annexed thereto by such party.

Sec. 1403. Whenever, in a suit brought for the recovery of goods, wares, merchandise or chattels, or for the value thereof, or for the balance remaining due thereon, or upon a note or promise for the recovery of a loan of money, against a person who pleads as a defense that he wa…

Sec. 1404. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Person" means an individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. (b) "Educational institution" means a university, college…

Sec. 1405. Any person for whose benefit a promise is made by way of contract, as hereinafter defined, has the same right to enforce said promise that he would have had if the said promise had been made directly to him as the promisee. (1) A promise shall be construed to have been…

Sec. 1410. If 2 persons have lived together as husband and wife, and a legal impediment existed to the marriage of either of the persons, their issue and the person that entered the relation in the good faith belief that the marriage was lawful are entitled to the same damages in…

Sec. 1412. (1) The Eastern Orthodox faith is hereby recognized as a major faith in this state. (2) In all forms and official papers of the government of this state and of local units of government within this state, which refer to the major faiths, the Eastern Orthodox faith shal…

Sec. 1414. The style of process from courts of record shall be: "In the Name of the People of the State of Michigan."

Sec. 1416. (1) The following courts are courts of record and possess seals: (a) the supreme court, (b) the several circuit courts, (c) the several probate courts, (d) the recorder's court of Detroit, (e) the court of claims, and (f) any other courts the legislature designates as …

Sec. 1418. No court of record shall discontinue any matter before it because of a vacancy in the office of any or all of its judges nor because of any judge being issued a new commission. Judges assigned temporarily or persons appointed in any new commissions, have power to conti…

Sec. 1419. (1) In order to assure adequate representation for the people of this state, when the court knows that a party in a civil action is a member of the legislature of this state, and the legislature is in session, the action shall be continued to a nonmeeting day. (2) In o…

Sec. 1420. The sittings of every court within this state shall be public except that a court may, for good cause shown, exclude from the courtroom other witnesses in the case when they are not testifying and may, in actions involving scandal or immorality, exclude all minors from…

Sec. 1422. Except in those situations where fees are expressly authorized by law, no judge, commissioner, or other judicial officer shall demand or receive any fee or compensation for giving advice in any matter or suit pending before him or which he has reason to believe will be…

Sec. 1425. Courts shall not transact any business on Sunday unless it is for the purpose of instructing or discharging a jury, or of receiving a verdict, or for a pressing matter; but this section shall not prevent the exercise of the jurisdiction of any court or judge when it is…

Sec. 1427. All writs, process, proceedings and records in any court within this state shall be in the English language, except that the proper and known names of process, and technical words, may be expressed in the language heretofore and now commonly used, and shall be made out…

Sec. 1428. (1) The state court administrative office shall establish and maintain records management policies and procedures for the courts, including a records retention and disposal schedule, in accordance with supreme court rules. The record retention and disposal schedule sha…

Sec. 1430. Every person of full age and sound mind, may prosecute or defend civil actions in any court by an attorney, or may, at his election, prosecute or defend civil actions in person. No person shall be permitted to prosecute or defend any civil action in person, when he has…

Sec. 1432. (1) The usual mode of administering oaths now practiced in this state, by the person who swears holding up the right hand, shall be observed in all cases in which an oath may be administered by law except as otherwise provided by law. The oath shall commence, "You do s…

Sec. 1434. Every person conscientiously opposed to taking an oath may, instead of swearing, solemnly and sincerely affirm, under the pains and penalties of perjury.

Sec. 1436. No person may be deemed incompetent as a witness, in any court, matter or proceeding, on account of his opinions on the subject of religion. No witness may be questioned in relation to his opinions on religion, either before or after he is sworn.

Sec. 1438. (1) Whenever any pleading is required to be verified by the party, or accompanied by the affidavit of the party, or whenever any other oath is required in order that the party may sue or be sued, and the party is, or is alleged to be, mentally incompetent, such incompe…

Sec. 1440. (1) An oath or affidavit other than an oath taken by a witness or a juror in a trial, or an oath required by law to be taken before a particular officer, may be taken before a justice, judge, or clerk of a court, or before a notary public. (2) If the person making the …

Sec. 1442. Oaths, affidavits and depositions, in any cause, matter or proceeding in any court of record, may also be taken before any person appointed by the court for that purpose or before any person upon whom the parties agree by stipulation in writing or on the record.

Sec. 1445. (1) If a court, board or commission, or other public body or officer orders an individual to submit to a physical examination, the order shall notify the individual that he or she has the right to have his or her attorney present at the physical examination. (2) Except…

Sec. 1450. The court administrator, under the supervision and direction of the supreme court, shall call an annual statewide meeting of the circuit judges and the judges of the recorder's court of the city of Detroit and an annual statewide meeting of the probate judges of the st…

Sec. 1451. The chief justice of the supreme court, or such person as shall be designated by him, shall preside over such meetings, and the court administrator of the supreme court or his deputy shall act as secretary therefor.

Sec. 1452. The judges shall attend such meetings when and as directed by the court administrator. Each justice of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, the circuit judges, judges of the recorder's court of the city of Detroit, the probate judges, and the court admini…

Sec. 1455. The courts of record of this state have the power: (1) To issue process of subpoena, requiring the attendance of any witness in accordance with court rules, to testify in any matter or cause pending or triable in such courts; (2) To administer oaths to witnesses in any…

Sec. 1461. As used in this act, "newspaper", with respect to the publication of a notice, means that term as defined in section 1 of 1963 PA 247, MCL 691.1051, with the required area being the county in which the court is located, unless a different required area is designated in…

Sec. 1465. (1) Whenever any funds shall be deposited with or paid to, or which heretofore have been deposited with or paid to any court, county officer, or the clerk or employee of such court or county officer by virtue of a judgment, decree or order of any court of record or div…

Sec. 1471. (1) The circuit court in each circuit and the district court in each district may employ law clerks for the court or for each judge of the court. (2) Each law clerk shall be a resident of the state of Michigan, and shall be either licensed to practice law in this state…

Sec. 1475. In case any amount is collected on any judgment or decree, if such judgment or decree be afterward reversed the court shall award restitution of the amount so collected, with interest from the time of collection.

Sec. 1481. (1) In every state court of record in Michigan inferior to the supreme court which has 10 or more judges, the judges may appoint an attorney to serve as judicial assistant to their court. A judicial assistant shall subscribe a constitutional oath of office administered…

Sec. 1482. (1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, in an action that alleges a medical malpractice claim, both of the following apply: (a) The damages recoverable for past medical expenses or rehabilitation service expenses shall not exceed the actual damages for medic…

Sec. 1483. (1) In a claim for damages alleging medical malpractice by or against a person or party, the total amount of damages for noneconomic loss recoverable by all plaintiffs, resulting from the medical malpractice of all defendants, shall not exceed $280,000.00 unless, as th…

Sec. 1485. (1) The money in the state court fund created in section 151a that is designated for indigent civil legal assistance shall be expended as provided in this section. (2) The money designated for indigent civil legal assistance shall be administered by the state court adm…

Sec. 1486. A judge or justice shall not hire or employ a member of his or her immediate family as a court employee or a process server or in any judicial support-related capacity. As used in this section, "member of his or her immediate family" means a person related to the judge…

Sec. 1487. A court of this state shall not enter into a contract for $10,000.00 or more for a good or service, but excluding a contract for indigent legal assistance, unless the court first follows the competitive bid procedures described in section 261 of the management and budg…

Sec. 1490. (1) As used in this section and sections 1491, 1492, and 1493: (a) "Blanket contract" means a contract under which a court reporter, court recorder, stenomask reporter, or court reporting firm agrees to perform all court reporting or court recording services for a clie…

Sec. 1491. (1) A court reporter, court recorder, stenomask reporter, or owner of a court reporting firm shall not do either of the following: (a) Enter into or arrange for any financial relationship that compromises the impartiality of court reporters, court recorders, or stenoma…

Sec. 1492. (1) A court reporter, court recorder, or stenomask reporter shall do all of the following in the performance of his or her duties: (a) Deliver a transcript or statement of facts to a client or court in a timely manner as determined by law, by court order, or by agreeme…

Sec. 1493. (1) The state court administrative office is responsible for enforcing sections 1490, 1491, and 1492 through the court recording and reporting board of review or by other administrative means. (2) Any violation of section 1490, 1491, or 1492 shall be cause for refusal …