Courts & rulings
United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Article III courtTrial courtAppointed
One of 2 federal trial courts in Michigan; jurisdiction is split by county.
Appointed, President nominates, Senate confirms.
Appellate path
Statutory divisions: Northern Division, Southern Division.
Covers 49 counties in Michigan.
Precedent & authority
Bound by its own circuit and the Supreme Court. Decisions of other district courts, even within the same circuit, are only persuasive.