Court System

The 46th Circuit Court Trial Court in Otsego County is divided into the following divisions: Circuit, District and Probate. It operates within two different court locations within the greater Gaylord area.

Judges may hear cases in any of the divisions — circuit, district or family and probate. Those judge include :

• Hon. Patricia A. Morse (Chief Judge, term expires December 2014)
• Hon. Janet M. Allen (Trial Court Judge, term expires December 2010)
• Hon. Michael K. Cooper (Trial Court Judge, term expires December 2012)
• Hon. Dennis F. Murphy (Trial Court Judge, term expires December 2014)

The Court Administration office oversees the circuit, district and family and probate court. Contact information is as follows:

• Victoria Courterier, Trial Court Administrator, 800 Livingston Blvd., Suite 3B, Gaylord; 731-0228

46th Circuit Court

The Circuit Division handles all civil cases involving claims more than $25,000, domestic issues without children, appeals from District Division, criminal cases involving sentences of more than one year in jail and all felonies.

The Circuit Court Room is located at the Otsego County Building, 225 W. Main St., Gaylord. The court scheduling clerk’s number is 731-0224 or 731-0225; Web site: www.circuit46.org.

Staff:
• Court clerk, 731-7500
• Assignment Clerk, 731-0224
• Probation/parole, 731-7640
• Friend of the Court, 731-7450
• Jury information (after 4:30 p.m.),  731-7506

87th District Court

The District Court begins all felony cases and, if a plea is reached, can end felony cases.

This court also handles civil weddings, landlord-tenant disputes, civil cases of less than $25,000, summary proceeding cases, all traffic cases, and criminal cases involving sentences up to one year in jail.

Courtrooms are located in the J. Richard Yuill Alpine Center at 800 Livingston Blvd., Suite 1C (just off Old 27 North), Gaylord.

The following court contacts are located at the court’s 800 Livingston Blvd. office.
• District Division Supervisor, 731-0209
• Court Clerk, 731-0209
• Civil division, 731-0239
• Small claims division, 731-0216
• Traffic division, 731-0208
• Criminal division, 731-0217
• Probation department, 731-0215
• Juror information line (after 4:30 p.m.), 731-0236
• Magistrate: Call the Traffic division for on-duty magistrate

Family and Probate Division

These divisions handle juvenile cases, court cases for the mentally ill, conservatorships, guardianships and oversee the distribution of assets of deceased residents of Otsego County.

The courtroom is located in the J. Richard Yuill Alpine Center, 800 Livingston Blvd., Suite 1C, Gaylord (just off Old 27 North).

Staff:
• Juvenile Register, 731-0214
• Probate Register, 731-0204
• Family Division Supervisor, 731-0210

Guide 2010 » Court System