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Get informed about Michigan's 2026 judicial elections with our detailed voter guide covering the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and local trial courts.
Table of Contents
Last update: February 22, 2026
This guide is designed for easy online navigation with clickable sections. If you’d rather download or print a copy, you can get the full PDF version.
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What You Need to Know Before You Vote
Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
Trial-Level Courts
- 4 Types of Trial-Level Courts
- Electing Trial Court Judges
How to Find Your Judges
Who’s on the Ballot in 2026
- Michigan Supreme Court 2026
- Michigan Court of Appeals 2026
- Trial Courts 2026
- What to Expect
- Where to Watch for Information
Final Thoughts Before You Vote
What You Need to Know Before You Vote
Every election year, Michigan voters choose judges — from the Michigan Supreme Court to local trial courts. Yet many skip those sections of the ballot simply because they don’t feel informed.
Michigan’s court system can feel complicated. Supreme Court justices run in nonpartisan races but are nominated at party conventions. Court of Appeals judges appear only in certain districts. Trial court judges are elected locally and may not show up on your ballot every year. Add in term lengths and vacancies — and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
This 2026 Michigan Judicial Voter Guide brings everything together in one place. The goal is simple: clarity. Here, you’ll find:
- An explanation of how Michigan’s court system is structured
- What each level of court does
- How judges are selected and elected
- Which seats are scheduled for the 2026 ballot
- How to find the judges who serve your community
- Where to look for updated candidate information
Judges make decisions that affect families, businesses, criminal justice, property rights, healthcare, education, and constitutional protections across our state. Understanding these roles helps you make informed decisions at the ballot box.
This guide will be updated as new information becomes available.
An informed voter is a confident voter. Walk into the voting booth knowing what you’re looking at — and why it matters.
Supreme Court
About
Website: Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the state’s highest court, responsible for interpreting the Michigan Constitution and laws, resolving major legal disputes, and setting binding precedent for all lower courts.
- Court of last resort
- Affirm or reverse Michigan Court of Appeals
- Remand a Case to Trial Court
- General administrative supervision of all state courts
- Rules for practice and procedure for all state courts
- Appointment and recommendation for Committees and Groups
The Michigan Supreme Court receives more than 2,000 requests each year asking it to review lower-court decisions, but it selects only about 70–80 cases for full argument and opinion.
The Court acts less like another appeals court and more like a policy-level referee, choosing only the cases that will shape Michigan law.
The Michigan Supreme Court has the final say on how the state constitution and laws are interpreted, meaning its decisions can shape policies affecting reproductive rights, criminal justice, education funding, business regulations, and the everyday legal rights of Michigan residents for years to come.
The Justices
Bottom Row (L to R)
- Justice Brian K. Zahra (Republican) — Started: 2011 | Term: 2023–2031 | Next election: 2030
- Chief Justice Megan K. Cavanagh (Democratic) — Started: 2019 | Term: 2019–2027 | Next election: 2026
- Justice Richard Bernstein (Democratic) — Started: 2015 | Term: 2023–2031 | Next election: 2030
Top Row (L to R)
- Justice Kimberly A. Thomas (Democratic) — Started: 2025 | Term: 2025–2033 | Next election: 2032
- Justice Elizabeth M. Welch (Democratic) — Started: 2021 | Term: 2021–2029 | Next election: 2028
- Justice Kyra H. Bolden* (Democratic) — Started: 2024 | Term: 2023–2029 | Next election: 2028
- Justice Noah P. Hood* (Democratic) — Started: 2025 | Term: 2025–2027 | Next election: 2026
* Filling the remainder of a vacated term.
Electing Supreme Court Justices
Supreme Court Justices are elected by voters to serve for 8-year terms. They run nonpartisan races, but are nominated to the ballot at Republican and Democratic party state conventions (this year they are March 28th for Republicans and April 19th for Democrats).
The Republican and Democratic party delegates vote for their chosen Supreme Court nominees. Once the nominees are selected, they appear on the nonpartisan section of the General Election ballot.
- Seats Open Every 2 Years: 2
- Term: 8 years
- Term limits: None, but must retire in the year they turn 70.
- To Get On the Ballot
- Incumbents: may file for re-election.
- Non-Incumbents: party nomination or nominating petition.
- Vacancy: Governor appoints a replacement until the next general election.
Court of Appeals
About
Website: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/court-of-appeals/
The Michigan Court of Appeals is the required next step after a trial court decision if someone wants to challenge the outcome.
The judges do not hold a new trial. Instead, they review the written record from the original case — transcripts, evidence, and legal arguments — to decide whether the judge followed the law correctly and whether the result should stand, be changed, or be sent back for another hearing.
- Reviews decisions made by trial courts (Circuit, District, Probate, and Court of Claims).
- Focuses on whether the law was applied properly, not who is telling the truth.
- Does not hear new witnesses or take new evidence.
- Issues written opinions that guide judges in future cases.
- Must review most appeals before the Michigan Supreme Court can consider them.
After the Court of Appeals makes a decision, the case usually ends there. A party can ask the Michigan Supreme Court to review it, but the Supreme Court chooses only a small number of cases to accept.
Michigan has a single statewide Court of Appeals divided into four geographic districts — located in Detroit, Troy, Grand Rapids, and Lansing — staffed by 25 judges who provide consistent statewide review before cases may be considered by the Michigan Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeals reviews whether trial courts applied the law correctly, and its decisions set binding guidance for lower courts — making it one of the most influential courts most voters have never heard of.
The Judges
(Front row L to R): Michael J. Riordan, Jane E. Markey (retired), Mark J. Cavanagh (retired), Chief Judge Michael F. Gadola, Chief Judge Pro Tem Stephen L. Borrello, Colleen A. O’Brien, Brock A. Swartzle.
(Second row L to R): Thomas C. Cameron, Anica Letica, James Robert Redford, Sima G. Patel, Noah P. Hood (appointed to Supreme Court), Kristina Robinson Garrett
(Third Row L to R) Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, Kathleen A. Feeney, Adrienne N. Young, Randy J. Wallace
(Not pictured) Christopher M. Murray, Michael J. Kelly, Mark T. Boonstra, Michelle M. Rick, Christopher P. Yates, Philip P. Mariani, Matthew S. Ackerman, Daniel S. Korobkin, Christopher M. Trebilcock, Mariam Saad Bazzi
Electing Court of Appeals Judges
Court of Appeals judges are elected by voters to serve 6-year terms. Like Supreme Court races, they appear on the ballot as nonpartisan candidates, but they are first nominated by political parties at state conventions.
- Seats Open Every 2 Years: Varies by district (based on term expiration)
- Term: 6 years
- Term limits: None, but judges must retire in the year they turn 70.
- To Get On the Ballot:
- Incumbents: may seek renomination at party convention.
- Non-incumbents: must secure party nomination at convention.
- Vacancy: Governor appoints a replacement until the next general election.
Trial-Level Courts
About
Website: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/courts/trial-courts/
Trial courts are where a case actually begins. This is where people file lawsuits, charges are brought, witnesses testify, and a judge or jury makes the first decision. Michigan has several types of trial courts, each handling different kinds of cases, but all of their decisions can be appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
4 Types of Trial-Level Courts
1. Circuit Court
The Circuit Court is Michigan’s primary trial court for major disputes and serious criminal matters. There are 57 circuit courts (one for each judicial circuit) with over 200 judges statewide serving 6-year terms.
- Civil cases involving more than $25,000
- Felony criminal cases
- Divorce, custody, and other family matters
- Appeals from District and Probate Courts
- Includes the Court of Claims (lawsuits against the state)
Circuit Court judges handle serious criminal cases, major civil disputes, and family law matters like divorce and custody — meaning their decisions can significantly impact personal freedom, financial stability, and parental rights.
Court of Claims
The Court of Claims handles lawsuits filed against the State of Michigan and operates within the Circuit Court system. Cases are heard by Court of Appeals judges assigned to this court and apply statewide.
- Claims against state departments or agencies
- Contract disputes involving the state
- Constitutional claims against the state
- Monetary claims generally over $1,000
If someone sues the State of Michigan — whether over contracts, constitutional rights, or actions by state agencies — this court decides the outcome, affecting how state government is held accountable.
2. Probate Court
Probate Courts handle legal matters involving personal decision-making and property after death. Michigan has 78 probate courts, typically one per county, with judges serving 6-year terms.
- Wills and estates
- Trust administration
- Guardianships and conservatorships
- Mental health treatment orders
Probate judges oversee wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and certain mental health matters, making decisions that affect families during some of their most sensitive and vulnerable moments.
3. District Court
District Courts handle everyday legal disputes and lower-level criminal matters. Michigan has approximately 100 district courts with judges serving 6-year terms.
- Traffic violations
- Misdemeanor criminal cases
- Civil disputes up to $25,000
- Small claims cases
District Court judges handle everyday cases — traffic tickets, misdemeanors, landlord-tenant disputes, and small civil claims — making them the judges most residents are likely to encounter.
4. Municipal Courts
A small number of municipalities (primarily in the Grosse Pointe area) operate municipal courts instead of district courts.
- Handle the same types of minor criminal and civil matters as District Court
In the few cities that operate municipal courts, these judges handle local criminal and civil matters similar to district courts, directly impacting residents within those communities.
Electing Trial Court Judges
Voters vote for the judges who serve the court area where they live. Your address determines which courts handle local cases — and therefore which judges appear on your ballot.
Judicial elections in Michigan are nonpartisan on the ballot, meaning party labels do not appear next to a judge’s name. However, the path to the ballot depends on the level of court.
Unlike the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, trial court judges are not nominated at party conventions. Candidates qualify for the ballot by filing nominating petitions (or paying a filing fee, where permitted) with the appropriate election official.
- Seats Open Every 2 Years: Varies by local court and term expiration
- Term: 6 years
- Term limits: None, but judges must retire in the year they turn 70
- To Get On the Ballot:
- Incumbents: may file for re-election
- Non-incumbents: must file nominating petitions or pay the required filing fee
- If more candidates file than seats available, a nonpartisan primary may be held
- Vacancy: Governor appoints a replacement until the next general election.
How to Find Your Judges
Judicial Circuits: How Court Areas Are Organized
View the Map of Courts
Michigan does not have one single trial court for the entire state. Instead, the state is divided into geographic court areas.
Each county (or group of counties) belongs to:
- A Circuit Court circuit
- A District Court district
- A Probate Court area
These boundaries determine which judge hears a case and which voters elect those judges.
A judicial circuit is the area served by a Circuit Court. Circuit Courts handle major criminal cases and large civil disputes. Voters in that circuit elect the judges who serve there.
District Courts and Probate Courts have their own separate boundaries, which are also shown on the statewide court map.
The Map of Courts shows which counties belong to which court areas. Each county is labeled with codes such as:
- C## = Circuit Court circuit number
- P## = Probate Court
- D## = District Court
Example
Circuit Court 10, Probate Court 73, District Court 70
So when you see something like Saginaw — C10, that means: Saginaw County is part of the 10th Judicial Circuit, and voters there elect the Circuit Court judges who serve that circuit.
Locate Your Judges
Judges do not all appear on the ballot every election year. Each judgeship has its own term, so only the seats whose terms are ending will show up for voters. In Michigan, most trial and appellate judges serve 6-year terms, and the election happens the November before the term expires.
The easiest way to check your local judges:
Option 1 – State website
- Go to the Trial Court Directory: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/trial-court-directory/
- Click on your county
- Click on Locations & Judges
Option 2 – County Website
Using Saginaw as an example,
- Go to the County website: https://www.saginawcountymi.gov/
- In the search bar, type “judges.”
- Choose the court you want to examine in the search results. (i.e., https://www.saginawcountymi.gov/courts-public-safety/courts/10th-circuit-court/ )
- Click on the judges name and review their bio page.
Who’s on the Ballot in 2026
About
- Supreme Court → statewide ballot
- Court of Appeals → district-wide ballot only
- Trial Courts → local ballot only
You may not see many declared judicial candidates early in the year — and that is normal. Judicial races in Michigan often develop later than other political offices because:
- Most judges run in nonpartisan elections
- Incumbents frequently run unopposed
- Party conventions influence Court of Appeals and Supreme Court nominations
- Many candidates wait until closer to filing deadlines to formally announce
At this stage of the cycle, parties may be quietly discussing appellate and Supreme Court slates, while trial court candidates are deciding whether to run based on whether an incumbent is retiring.
Michigan Supreme Court 2026
Two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court are scheduled for election in 2026:
- Chief Justice Megan K. Cavanagh (D) (term ending January 1, 2027)
- Justice Noah P. Hood (D) (appointed to fill a partial term ending January 1, 2027)
These seats will appear on the statewide November 2026 ballot. Party delegates will nominate candidates at their state conventions before voters see them on the nonpartisan ballot.
Michigan Court of Appeals 2026
The following Court of Appeals judges have terms ending January 1, 2027, meaning their seats will appear on the 2026 ballot within their respective appellate districts:
-
Mark T. Boonstra 3 Republican 2012 2021–2027 2026
-
Michael F. Gadola 4 Republican 2003 2021–2027 2026
-
Daniel S. Korobkin 3 Democratic 2025 2021—2027 2026
-
Michael J. Riordan 1 Republican 2010 2021–2027 2026
-
Brock A. Swartzle 4 Republican 2019 2021–2027 2026
-
Christopher M. Trebilcock 2 Democratic 2025 2021—2027 2026
-
Christopher P. Yates 3 Democratic 2018 2021–2027 2026
Only voters living in those judges’ appellate districts will vote in these races.
Trial Courts 2026
Trial court elections are based on geography. Whether you see a trial court race on your ballot depends on:
- Which courts serve your address
- Which judges’ terms expire in 2026
- Whether an incumbent is running again
To determine which trial court judges may appear on your ballot, review the term expiration dates for your local Circuit, District, and Probate judges.
What to Expect
For trial courts (Circuit, District, Probate):
- If an incumbent judge is seeking reelection, challengers are less common
- If a judge announces retirement, multiple candidates may enter
- Filing deadlines determine when races become visible
For Court of Appeals and Supreme Court:
- Political parties nominate candidates at conventions
- Names may circulate internally before formal filings
- Campaign committees often appear closer to statutory deadlines
Where to Watch for Information
If you want to track judicial candidates before they appear on the ballot:
- County clerk websites (offices up for election)
- Party convention announcements (appellate and Supreme Court seats)
- MiTN campaign finance filings
- Local news reports when judges announce retirement or candidacy
Judicial races often move from quiet to visible quickly. Early in the year, information may be limited. As filing deadlines and conventions approach, confirmed candidate lists become clearer and easier to track.
Final Thoughts Before You Vote
Judicial elections don’t always get the same attention as races for governor, Congress, or the legislature. Yet the judges you elect often make decisions that shape daily life in Michigan — from criminal sentencing and family law to constitutional questions and disputes involving the state itself.
Unlike many other offices, judicial candidates appear on the ballot without party labels. That can make these races feel harder to navigate. Understanding how the court system works — who serves where, how long they serve, and which seats are on your ballot — makes the process less confusing and more manageable.
If you’re preparing to vote in 2026:
- Check which courts serve your address.
- Review which seats are up for election in your district.
- Look for updates as party conventions conclude and candidate filings become official.
- Confirm your ballot before heading to the polls.
This guide will continue to be updated as new information becomes available. Bookmark it, download the printable version if helpful, and return as Election Day approaches.
An informed voter is a prepared voter. When you step into the voting booth, you deserve to understand every section of your ballot — including the judicial races that often receive the least attention but carry significant long-term impact.
