Judge Rachel Rancilio

Judge Rachel Rancilio was elected to the Circuit Court bench on November 8th, 2016. Judge Rachel Rancilio was a partner in the law firm of Fischer, Garon, Hoyumpa & Rancilio in Mt. Clemens. For fourteen years she specialized in complex domestic, civil and criminal litigation, serving as attorney-of-record in more than two hundred cases before the Macomb circuit bench. Rachel, while playing Division 1 Softball, attended the University of Detroit Mercy on an academic scholarship and was a member of Wayne State University Law School’s Law Review.  She enjoys spending time with her two children.

Contact information

16th Judicial Circuit Court
Macomb County Courthouse
40 N. Main St, 3rd Floor
Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Telephone: (586) 493-6748

Staff

For the consideration of all individuals, this courtroom observes a fragrance-free policy. Please refrain from wearing scented products such as perfumes, colognes, and strongly scented lotions.

Civil cases

Procedural motions – Mondays at 8:30 a.m. (In-person only. No exceptions)
Motions for Summary Disposition motions – Mondays at 9:30 a.m. (In-person only. No exceptions)
Oral arguments on appeals – Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. (In-person only. No exceptions)
Trials – Tuesdays – Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. (In-person only. No exceptions)
Any/all response(s) due no later than seven days

Creditors exams – Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.
(If held in Court's conference room, contact court clerk to schedule.)

Settlement Conferences - Tuesdays and Wednesdays 

All settlement conferences set at 8:30 a.m. are via Zoom. Zoom notices will not be sent.
Judge Rancilio’s Zoom Meeting ID Number: 643-830-3467 (following your name, please include case name and number you are appearing on)
All settlement and status conferences set at 10:00 a.m. are in person ONLY.

Criminal cases

All criminal matters are in person - no zoom, no exceptions.

Criminal Motions - Tuesdays or Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. or at the date of Pretrial.
Pretrial conferences – Mondays at 1:30 p.m. or Thursdays at 9:00 a.m.
Sentencings – Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 9:00 a.m.
Trials – Tuesdays – Thursdays at 9:00 a.m.
Probation violation hearings – Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 9:00 a.m.
Review hearings – Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m
Any/all response(s) due no later than seven days

Policies and procedures

Alternate service

Requests for alternate service must be accompanied by a verified motion, proposed order, an affidavit of the process server showing three attempts of service of process and a postal verification.

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, and postal verification.

Adjournments

Requests for adjournments may be made by motion or by stipulation and will only be granted upon showing of good cause and must be made at least 7 days prior to the hearing. Adjournments of all criminal proceedings must be stipulated to by the Prosecutor and the order must be submitted via e-filing. 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, disposition motions, and case evaluation. For the first request, Judge Rancilio 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 state within the order who is responsible to pay the adjournment fee. If you are looking to facilitate this matter in lieu of case evaluation, your order must include a settlement conference date which you can obtain from the Judge's Secretary and must also state that a number is to be placed within their recommendation.

See form - Scheduling orders

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. Attorney(s) must advise Judge Rancilio’s secretary of the resolution prior to the conference date.

Conferences scheduled for 8:30 a.m. are scheduled via Zoom and only the attorneys need to appear. Conferences scheduled for 10:00 a.m. are in person. All parties including Trial Attorneys, clients, adjusters and persons with settlement authority must appear in person.

Facilitative mediation

If parties are seeking facilitation in lieu of case evaluation, you must submit a stipulated order including the facilitators name, date and time of facilitation and that a number is to be placed within the facilitator’s recommendation after contacting the secretary to obtain a settlement conference date.

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  - Trial Procedural Order