Always willing to consider suggestions to improve their delivery of services, each of our district judges recently implemented, on a pilot basis, a pre-exam conference program for felony files. 

Rather than wait until the preliminary exam (typically 14 days following arraignment), the court is now scheduling a pre-exam conference to  be held 7 – 9 days following arraignment; with the assigned judge, an assistant prosecutor, defense counsel, and the defendant present.

Issues addressed at the conference may include production of discovery, availability of witnesses to conduct the exam, status of plea negotiations, 14-day waiver, referral for a forensic exam, arraignment / plea to a misdemeanor, bond modification, waiver to circuit court, (i.e. the entire spectrum of issues that need to be addressed in felony cases before bindover); and, come 01-01-06, possibly conducting the post-bindover circuit court arraignment / plea in district court (see recently adopted MCR 6.111).

In this manner, the court purposes to significantly improve the administration of justice:  i.e. avoid the cost of unnecessary subpoenas, reduce intrusion on the busy schedules of police and witnesses, more effectively use attorneys’ time / cost, and, when a preliminary exam is required, provide scheduling certainty.

And, if the results of Judge Boyd’s preliminary test program during July are indicative, by bringing the interested parties together prior to the exam itself, the court has every expectation that these positive results will be universally realized.

Naturally, as this pilot program progresses, the district court requests your continuing cooperation and feedback.      

#   #   #