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Search Tips




Search for a Case | Search for a Rule | Search for a Citation | Refine your Search Results | Use Advanced Case Search | Search for Subsequent History

Search for a Case

  1. Type your search term or phrase in the Search Cases box. (To find an exact phrase, surround the phrase with quotation marks.)
  2. Click the checkbox next to the resources you wish to search ("MI Supreme Court Opinions," "MI Supreme Court Orders," etc.).
  3. Click GO. Your search results will appear on your screen.

Search for a Rule

  1. Type your search term or phrase in the Search Rules box. (To find an exact phrase, surround the phrase with quotation marks.)
  2. Click the checkbox next to the rules you wish to search ("MI Court Rules," "MI Rules of Evidence," "MI Rules of Profl Conduct").
  3. Click GO. Your search results will appear on your screen.

Search for a Citation

To search for a case citation, docket number, or MCR cite:

  1. Type your citation in the Get a Case or Rule by Citation box.
  2. Click the SUBMIT button. Your search results will appear on your screen.

Refine Your Search Results

To refine your original search:

  1. Scroll to the top of your search results page.
  2. Change your original terms or add new terms or phrases.
  3. Click GO. Your new search results will appear on your screen. See also Search Tips.
  4. To sort the search results by court (or by type of rule), click on any of the links in the "Results by Type" box. The number in parentheses after each link is the number of search results for that link.

Advanced Case Search

  1. Under the Search Cases heading, click the advanced case search link.
  2. Enter your search term in the search box.
  3. Select the collection or collections you would like to search by clicking the checkbox beside the collection.

    Note: Unpublished opinions cannot be searched in Advanced Case Search.

  4. Use any or all of these fields to limit your search. Examples:

    Search terms: equal protection

    Note: Search for only one party name at a time.

    Party name McDonald

    Note: The official citation field will return only opinions that exactly match the citation you type. Do not include the year of decision in this field.

    Official citation 409 Mich 110

    Docket number 62077

    Author Kelly

  5. Narrow your search further by selecting a decision date range. Use the date format below.

    MM-DD-YYYY
    example: 02-25-1998

  6. Click SEARCH. Your search results will appear on your screen.

See also search tips.


Search for Subsequent History

To find the subsequent history for a case using search:

  • Basic search: Use the Mtype the case name with quotes around it - for example, "People v Whitehead" - and click GO.
    This retrieves both published and unpublished cases and decisions released after the docket number has changed (e.g., after remand).
  • Advanced search (for fewer results): Use the Advanced Case Search and put one party's name in the PARTY box. (Note: advanced search will not return unpublished cases.)

To find the subsequent history of a case you are viewing, click "Track This Cite" (above the case name). The subsequent history in "Track This Cite" does not not include unpublished decisions or decisions released after the docket number has changed (e.g., after remand). To find such decisions, try the basic search or advanced search described above.