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HB 5204

Courts: court of appeals; jurisdiction of the court of appeals; expand to include state bar admissions. Amends secs. 910 & 913 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.910 & 600.913).

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Kelly Breen

Each Court of Appeals district may admit qualified Michigan attorneys to the bar, removing special assignments and streamlining oath, records, and certification duties.

assigned PA 217'24
#courts:courtofappeals #courts:employees #courts:jurisdiction
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Bill Summary · HB 5204

Summary — HB 5204 (Enacted as Public Act 217 of 2024)

Main purpose

HB 5204 amends the Revised Judicature Act (1961 PA 236) to add each judicial district of the Michigan Court of Appeals to the list of courts that may admit (swear in) qualified individuals to the State Bar. The change removes the long-standing need for Court of Appeals judges to receive special temporary assignments to perform bar admissions.

Key provisions

  • Amends MCL 600.910 and MCL 600.913 to:
    • Explicitly give each Court of Appeals judicial district jurisdiction to admit individuals qualified to the bar of this state (MCL 600.910).
    • Add the chief clerk of the Court of Appeals to the clerks required, when an individual is admitted by that court, to:
    • Administer the oath for members of the bar (as prescribed by the Michigan Supreme Court).
    • Issue a certificate of admission upon payment of $25.
    • Keep a record of the admission in the roll of attorneys and the court journal.
    • Promptly transmit certified copies of orders of admission to the State Bar of Michigan and the clerk of the Supreme Court without charge.
    • Require transmission of certified copies of suspension, disbarment, contempt, or reinstatement orders in the same manner.

Who is affected / impact

  • New attorneys: may be sworn in by Court of Appeals judges in their judicial districts, in addition to circuit court judges and Supreme Court justices.
  • Court of Appeals judges: no longer need special assignment from the Supreme Court to perform admissions.
  • Chief clerk of the Court of Appeals: takes on the same administrative duties for admissions as circuit court clerks and the clerk of the Supreme Court.
  • State Bar of Michigan and Supreme Court clerk: continue to receive certified admissions and disciplinary orders.
  • Administrative impact: procedural streamlining; stated fiscal impact is negligible (no material state or local cost).

Background and rationale

  • When the original statutes were enacted (1961) the Court of Appeals did not yet exist; the omission required Court of Appeals judges who wished to swear in attorneys to obtain temporary special assignments under Article VI, §23 of the 1963 Constitution. The bill was intended to correct that oversight and reduce administrative inefficiency.

Legislative & effective dates

  • Introduced: October 24, 2023 (Rep. Kelly Breen).
  • Passed House: September 25, 2024 (109–0); Passed Senate: December 11, 2024 (36–0).
  • Enrolled/returned: December 12, 2024.
  • Approved by Governor / Filed with Secretary of State: January 17, 2025.
  • Effective date: April 2, 2025.
  • Enacted as: Public Act 217 of 2024.

Fiscal note and endorsements

  • Fiscal impact: reported as none to state or local court systems.
  • Supporters/testimony: State Court Administrative Office, Michigan Judges Association, State Bar of Michigan.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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