Court Reports

On Friday, May 19, 92nd District Court Judge Beth Gibson will begin the second year of holding court hours on Mackinac Island.

"I'm pleased how successful it was last year and look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Mackinac Island with this program," she said.

In May 2005, she began a new program on the Island that required defendants who receive probation and a fine to pay their fees within two weeks. Contempt of court proceedings were initiated against anyone who owed fines that were not paid by the next scheduled court date. The program was designed to reduce the number of open cases resulting when seasonal workers would leave the Island without paying their fines, said Judge Gibson.

At the end of court dates on the Island in September, Judge Gibson said there was a 100percent success rate with the program.

This year Island court will meet on the first and third Fridays of each month. Judge Gibson said she has left her schedule open in case an additional session is needed on the fourth Friday of the month.

Court will be conducted on that schedule from Friday, May 19, until Friday, September 15, in the Community Hall on Market Street at 9:30 a.m. Judge Gibson noted that because of a jury trial in Newberry June 15 and 16, that court meeting would be moved to Monday, June 19.

The 92nd District Court covers Mackinac and Luce counties and regularly convenes in St. Ignace and Newberry.