MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich — Muskegon County Courts are extending employee furloughs, up to eight hours per week resulting in the continuation of "Limited Access Fridays" through March 12.
The result of that decision means non-emergency court services will not be available to the general public on Fridays.
Citizens with an emergency on Fridays may call or email the court. Emergencies may include personal protection orders, ex parte domestic and civil matters, as well as mental health emergency treatment matters. Designated staff and judges will be available to consider emergency requests.
Currently, courts around the state remain in phase one of the Michigan Supreme Court’s Return to Full Capacity Plan restricting public access to court facilities and limiting in-person appearances to an appointment-only basis.
"It's already very limited access for the general public Monday through Thursday," said 60th District Court Administrator Patrick Finnegan. "Unless you have a particular appointment the general public isn't able to walk into the Hall of Justice right now anyway."
Court operations within the Muskegon County Hall of Justice remain open for business on an appointment-only basis Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Court hearings continue to be held via Zoom videoconferencing technology, filings can be submitted to the court via drop boxes located outside the Hall of Justice, email, or through the US mail. Payments can be made by debit or credit card online or over the phone, or by check or money order via the US Mail or drop box. Other offices in the Hall of Justice, including the Prosecutor and the Sheriff, continue to make staff available for appointments from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each Friday.
The Courts’ continued cost savings, in conjunction with the State of Michigan’s Workshare Program, are expected to total more than $800,000 since the start of the pandemic.
For further information, contact:
- 14th Circuit Court Records: 231-724-8843 or CCR.Filings@muskegoncounty.net (Ex Partes)
- Family /Circuit Court: 231-724-6234 or FamilyCourtServices@muskegoncounty.net (PPOs)
- Circuit Court Collections: 231-724-3470
- 60th District Court: 60DistrictCourt@muskegoncounty.net
- Civil: 231-724-6329
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