court costs

Legislation that could lead to an overhaul of how Michigan courts are funded is on its way to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her signature.

The law is actually just a one-sentence provision in a 2014 law that allows local courts to assess fines and fees on criminal defendants that are then used to cover court costs. The need for change stems from public perception that local courts and judges use defendant fees to fund themselves, according to Tom Boyd, Michigan’s State Court Administrator.

Challengers say Michigan's court costs system is poorly regulated and gives judges an incentive to impose fees on defendants to close up holes in a court's budget.

Courts in Michigan can continue requiring defendants found guilty of a crime to pay certain court costs associated with their trial for another year and a half.

The challenges claim that allowing judges to assess court costs creates an automatic incentive to find defendants guilty. That’s because courts don’t get to assess costs when a defendant is found innocent.

Michigan's trial court funding system is "broken." That's according to a study released Monday by the Michigan Trial Court Funding Commission.Tom Boyd is…

The Michigan Supreme Court will decide whether it’s legal for judges to order defendants to pay fees and court costs.One defendant is challenging the…

DETROIT – The Michigan Supreme Court has announced amendments to state rules aimed at keeping people from jail time because they can't pay court fines or…

Tomorrow, a state Senate committee takes up legislation that would require state agencies to pay the court costs of people who sue the state and win.…

The Michigan Supreme Court says judges can’t order people convicted of a crime to pay the costs to the legal system – unless it’s been specifically…