Ingham County

Friend of the Court

Ingham County Friend of the Court

Citizens Advisory Committee

P.O. Box 319, Mason, Michigan 48854   Telephone (517)676-7363  FAX (517)676-7264

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See Advisory Committee information

Meetings are usually the third Thursday of each month (except July, August, and December)

at 5:30p.m.

in the Human Services Building at 5303 S. Cedar St., Lansing,

the conference room will be listed in the directory in the building

Michigan law authorizes each county to establish a citizen advisory committee for the

Friend of the Court.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Who can serve on the citizen advisory committee?

The committee is composed of the following members, each of whom must be a resident of the county:

• An advocate for children
• A representative of non-custodial parents
• A representative of custodial parents
• An attorney who engages primarily in family law practice
• The county sheriff or the sheriff's designee
• The prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney's designee
• The director of the family independence agency or the director's designee
• A mental health professional who provides family counseling
• A member of the general public who is not an individual who could serve on the committee in a category listed above

Who appoints members to the citizens advisory committee?

The Ingham County Board of Commissioners appoints public members of the Citizen Advisory Committee.

What authority does the committee have?

A citizen advisory committee is advisory only.  The responsibilities of the committee are to:

• Meet not less than six (6) times annually, keep minutes of each meeting and submit a copy of the minutes to the county board.
• Review and investigate grievances filed with the committee concerning Friend of the Court operations.
• Advise the Court and county board on:
  • The office of the Friend of the Court
  • The Friend of the Court duties and performance; and
  • Community needs relating to office services
• Submit an annual report of its activities to the county board, the Circuit Court, the State Court Administrative Office, the Governor's office and the Senate and House committees and appropriations subcommittees that are responsible for legislation concerning the judicial branch.

Can I attend citizen advisory committee meetings?

Yes. A citizen advisory committee meeting is open to the public.  Members of the public must be given a reasonable opportunity to comment on any issue under consideration.  If a vote is to be taken by the committee, the public must be allowed to comment before the vote is taken.  A citizen advisory committee meeting is not open to the public while the committee is reviewing, investigating or holding a hearing on a grievance.

How do I find out when and where the citizen advisory committee for my Friend of the Court meets?

Call the Friend of the Court office at 483-6103.

What if I have a complaint about the Friend of the Court?

File the complaint in writing, providing all pertinent information.

Can I file a grievance against a Friend of the Court employee or court order with the citizen advisory committee?

No - A complaint against an employee must be filed with the Friend of the Court.

A complaint about a Court order must be appealed only to the Court.  Grievances addressed by the Citizen's Advisory Committee are intended to be about the processes or operations of the Friend of the Court that may have been improper.

How does the committee review the performance of the Friend of the Court if no grievances are submitted directly to the committee?

They have the authority to review grievances.

What does the citizen advisory committee do after it reviews a grievance?

The committee may discuss the issues and make recommendations to the Friend of the Court and the Chief Judge.

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