Honorable Jennifer M. Faunce

Judge Jennifer M. Faunce was elected to office and began serving her first term January 1, 2003 at the court for Warren and Centerline.

Prior to her terms on the bench, Judge Faunce served as State Representative for Warren and Sterling Heights for four years. During her time at the state house she chaired the Committee on Criminal Justice. One of the most important laws she passed was bill that cleared the way for GM to invest $1 billion into the Tech Center. Before her election to the state house, Judge Faunce served as an assistant Macomb County Prosecutor for seven years.

Judge Faunce has continuously given her time to charity throughout her community. In 2001 she was recognized for her work as the recipient of the March of Dimes Macomb Alexander Citizen of the Year. She served as chairman of the board for the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan and is active with Families Exploring Down Syndrome (FEDS).

Judge Faunce was born and raised in Warren. She received her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and her law degree from the University of Detroit School of Law. Judge Faunce and her family are members of St. Martin de Porres Church in Warren. She and her husband live in Warren with their two children.

Contact information

Macomb County Court Building

40 N. Main Street, 5th Floor

Mount Clemens, MI  48043

Staff

Scheduling days and times

All cases

Civil and Criminal Trials - Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.

Civil cases - Via ZOOM

(unless requested to be in-person - in person motions must be approved by the Court - Mondays at 1:30 p.m.)

Procedural Motions - Mondays at 8:30 a.m.

Summary Disposition Motions - Mondays at 8:30 a.m.

Oral Arguments on Appeals - Mondays at 8:30 a.m.

PPO Hearings - Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.

Creditors Exams - Mondays at 8:30 a.m. 

ALL Civil Conferences - Wednesday remote by zoom (Zoom ID # will be sent 1 week prior to hearing through True-Filing w/specific time to log into zoom) - if an in-person conference is scheduled the docket entries will specifically state that the conference is scheduled for an in-person hearing.

Criminal cases

Arraignments (via zoom from MCJ) - Mondays 1:30 p.m..

Pretrial Conferences - Mondays at 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays/Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Sentencings: Tuesdays or Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Probation Violation Hearings/Sentencings - Tuesdays or Thursday at 8:30 a.m.

Review Hearings - Tuesdays or Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Application to Set Aside Convictions - Tuesdays or Thursdays at 830 a.m. (if filed by an attorney), if filed in pro per Tuesdays or Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.

Policies and procedures

Alternate services

Requests for alternate service must be accompanied by a verified motion, proposed order, an affidavit of the process server showing reasonable efforts to make service of process, and a postal verification with at least 3 attempts of service.

Extending summons

Requests to extend the summons must be accompanied by a verified motion, proposed order, and an affidavit of the process server showing reasonable efforts to make service of process with at least 3 attempts of service.

Adjournments

Requests for adjournments may be made motion or by stipulation and will only be granted upon showing of good cause.   The grounds for the request and a proposed new day must be stated in the motion or proposed order. Adjournment of criminal pretrials and sentences must be approved by Prosecutor with stipulated order presented to Judge Faunce for final approval. Adjournment of criminal and civil trials must be made by motion.

Scheduling orders

For most civil cases, the Court issues a standard Discovery and Case Evaluation Order setting the schedule for discovery, witness lists, dispositive motions, and case evaluation.  For the first request, Judge Faunce will permit a 60 day extension of the dates set forth in the Discovery and Case Evaluation Order by stipulation of the parties.  Counsel to prepare stipulated order.  Any Subsequent requests to extend the scheduling order dates must be made by motion and only will be granted upon a showing of good cause.  If a Case Evaluation Hearing has already been scheduled, the parties must pay the $150.00 adjournment fee prior to submitting the order for entry.

Settlement conferences

The attorneys attending the conference must be thoroughly familiar with the case and have the authority necessary to fully participate in the conference.  The parties to the action must also be present, unless their attendance is excused by the Court.  A request to excuse a party's attendance must be requested before the conference date.  A party whose presence is excused must be available by telephone.  If a matter is resolved and an order of dismissal is entered before the conference date, the attorneys and parties need not appear for the conference.

Facilitative mediation

Requests to submit a case to facilitative mediation under MCR 2.410 and 2.411 may be made by stipulation (you may use this form).  If the parties are unable to agree on a mediator, the Court will select a mediator in the manner provided by MCR 2.411(B)(3).  The Court will generally require that facilitation occur within 60 days, unless good cause is shown for an extension.

See Form #1 - Order Regarding Facilitative Mediation

Trial procedures

The Court's trial procedures are contained in its Trial Procedure Order which is issued when a case is scheduled for trial.

See Form #2 - Trial Procedure Order

Order