Legal research for Detroit and Michigan law firms - Court of Appeals, MCR 7.215 and the Sixth Circuit
By LegiMatch Research Team · Published October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Short answer: In Michigan, published Court of Appeals opinions bind trial courts statewide, and under MCR 7.215(J)(1) a later panel must follow published opinions issued on or after November 1, 1990, unless a special conflict panel overrules them. Unpublished opinions aren't binding. Federal cases go to the Eastern or Western District and the Sixth Circuit.
Michigan's courts
| Court | Role |
|---|---|
| Michigan Supreme Court | Highest court; binds every Michigan court |
| Michigan Court of Appeals | Intermediate appeals, statewide (sits in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Troy) |
| Circuit courts | General trial courts (Wayne County Circuit Court for Detroit) |
| District courts | Smaller civil claims, misdemeanors, landlord-tenant |
| Probate and Court of Claims | Estates; claims against the State |
Which Court of Appeals decisions bind
- Published opinions have precedential effect and bind trial courts statewide (MCR 7.215(C)(2)).
- Unpublished opinions aren't binding precedent (MCR 7.215(C)(1)). They shouldn't be cited for a point that published authority covers, and a party citing one must explain why. Give the docket number and decision date; a copy must be provided only for unpublished opinions issued before 1996.
- The "first-out" rule: a panel must follow a published opinion issued on or after November 1, 1990 that hasn't been reversed or modified (MCR 7.215(J)(1)). A panel that disagrees must say so, and a special conflict panel may be convened to resolve it.
Federal courts
| District | Main cities |
|---|---|
| Eastern District | Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, Bay City, Port Huron |
| Western District | Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette |
Appeals go to the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati.
Citations and statutes
Michigan decisions are cited to Mich. (Supreme Court), Mich. App. (Court of Appeals) and the North Western Reporter (N.W.2d). The Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) are on the Legislature's site, legislature.mi.gov.
A fact-first workflow
Detroit-area practice includes auto cases under Michigan's no-fault system, premises liability, employment and municipal liability.
- Describe the facts in plain English. Example: "A Detroit driver was rear-ended on I-94 and missed four months of work. The no-fault insurer stopped paying wage loss benefits after an insurer medical exam."
- Limit to Michigan, and add Sixth Circuit and Michigan federal decisions if the case is in federal court.
- Read Supreme Court and published Court of Appeals decisions first, checking dates against the November 1, 1990 rule.
- Check treatment before relying on any decision; Michigan's no-fault law was amended substantially in 2019, so check which version applies.
- Read the statute at issue (here, the no-fault act, MCL 500.3101 and following) in the version in force on the relevant date.
LegiMatch returns up to 100 similar decisions for each matter, ranked by a match score that shows how much facts, legal issues, statutes, jurisdiction and recency contributed. Every result is a real decision linked to the court's text. It supports your research and doesn't give legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are unpublished Michigan Court of Appeals opinions binding?
No. Under MCR 7.215(C)(1), unpublished opinions aren't precedentially binding. They may be cited where no published authority covers the point, with an explanation of why they're relevant.
What is the November 1, 1990 rule?
Under MCR 7.215(J)(1), a Court of Appeals panel must follow published opinions issued on or after November 1, 1990, unless a conflict panel overrules them.
Which federal court covers Detroit?
The Eastern District of Michigan. Appeals go to the Sixth Circuit.
Sources
- Michigan Court Rule 7.215
- Michigan Courts (courts.michigan.gov)
- Michigan Legislature, Michigan Compiled Laws (legislature.mi.gov)
- United States Courts, court locator (uscourts.gov)
This article is general information about legal research, not legal advice. Verify every authority before relying on it.
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