With the Michigan Supreme Court’s recent posting of the cases that will be argued at its March, April, and May 2025 sittings, it’s possible to distill some overall qualities about how the 2024-25’s term of 66 docketed matter will look. (These numbers may slightly change if the Court later releases an opinion or two without oral argument as sometimes happens.)

Where

It’s no surprise that many of the cases originate from Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties. It’s interesting that Macomb has more than Oakland this term. It’s also interesting to see how the 2024-25 term includes cases from around the state (sorry UP friends).

15 Wayne 14 Macomb 5 Oakland 4 Genesee 4 Ingham 3 Emmet 3 Saginaw 2 Michigan Tax Tribunal

2 Livingston 1 Court of Claims 1 Court of Appeals 1 Berrien 1 Branch 1 Calhoun 1 Isabella

1 Kalamazoo 1 Kalkaska 1 Kent 1 Lenawee 1 Manistee 1 Ottawa 1 Presque Isle 1 Van Buren

Type of MSC oral argument

Once again, far more matters are scheduled for a mini-oral argument on the application (MOAA) than on leave granted.

7 Leave granted; 59 MOAA

Case types

Capital felony (FC) 13
General civil (CZ) 10
Noncapital felony (FH) 8
No-fault automobile insurance (NF) 6
Contracts (CK) 4
Medical malpractice (NH) 3
Personal injury, auto negligence (NI) 2
Other personal injury (NO) 2
Other damage suit (NZ) 2
Labor relations (CL) 2
Child protective proceedings (NA) 2
Michigan Tax Tribunal (MTT) 1
Agency appeal (except from the Michigan Employment Security Commission and the Michigan Secretary of State (AA) 1
Criminal appeal from a lower court when filed in a higher court (AR) 1
Civil appeal from a lower court when filed in a higher court (AV) 1
Writs for mandamus not filed in the Court of Claims, and all quo warranto and other writs (AW) 1
Other professional malpractice (NM) 1
Business claims (CB) 1
Employment discrimination (CD) 1
Housing and real estate (CH) 1
Divorce, minor children (DM) 1
Other damage suit in Court of Claims (MZ) 1
Testamentary trust (TT) 1

Absent an emergency, this might be another term when the Court is not asked to make a final decision on a judicial tenure matter.

Types of reviewed Court of Appeal decisions

Unpublished per curiam 34
Published per curiam 5
Published opinion 25
Denied application order 2

Once, again, data can give an interesting and informative snapshot of how a court’s current work is taking shape.