Senator Jones offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 173.

A resolution to recognize June 2018 as the 50th Anniversary of the Michigan District Judges Association.

Whereas, As required by the 1963 Michigan Constitution, legislation passed and went into effect on June 17, 1968 to create our district court system; and

Whereas, As a result of this legislation, most courts began operation on January 1, 1969; and

Whereas, The district court is often referred to as “The People’s Court” because the public has more contact with the district court than with any other court in the state, due to the fact that many people go to district court without an attorney; and

Whereas, The district court has exclusive jurisdiction over all civil claims for damages up to $25,000 including small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, land contract disputes, and civil infractions. The court may also conduct marriages in a civil ceremony as well; and

Whereas, The district court’s small claims division handles cases in which the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less. The most common civil infractions are minor traffic matters, such as speeding, failure to stop or yield, careless driving, as well as equipment and parking violations; and

Whereas, District courts also handle a wide range of criminal proceedings, including most misdemeanors, offenses for which the maximum possible penalty does not exceed one year in jail; and

Whereas, In misdemeanor cases, the district court judge arraigns the defendant, sets and accepts bail, presides at the trial, and sentences the defendant; and

Whereas, District courts also conduct preliminary examinations in felony cases, after which, if the prosecutor provides sufficient proofs, the felony case is transferred to the circuit court for arraignment and trial; now, therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize June 2018 as the 50th anniversary of the Michigan District Judges Association.