Old Friend, New Judge: Lessons in the Transition

By the Honorable Anthony J. McDowell, 7th Circuit Court, Genesee County

After over 10 years at the Genesee County Friend of the Court (FOC) in several different roles, I decided to throw my hat in the ring for a judicial appointment to the Family Division of the 7th Circuit Court in the summer of 2024. It was not an easy decision, as I loved the work that we were doing at the Genesee County FOC. We were taking steps to educate the families we serve about the FOC, make the office more trauma informed, and become more accessible to families. As much as I wanted to see the improvements to the office come to fruition, I knew that we had built a wonderful team that was going to be able to make those goals a reality. I also hoped that moving to a judicial role, I would be able to find a new vantage point to be able to continue to make those same efforts, albeit with a different lens. 

Motivational Interviewing for Jurists

By: Referee Daniel J. Ferency, Oakland County

For most practicing lawyers, judges, and other judicial officers, the mode and method of questioning litigants and witnesses in court have been formed over many years and reduced to a set of rules that you often need a law degree to understand. While these rules undoubtedly advance the court’s truth-seeking function in an adversarial setting, speaking directly to litigants under other circumstances sometimes requires a different approach, especially when the court is attempting to garner compliance with its orders—something all judicial officers hope for. Such is the key takeaway from a recent four-day “Motivational Interviewing Training for Jurists,” hosted by the State Court Administrative Office Friend of the Court Bureau in March and April 2026 and facilitated by Meg Perrault, MA, LPC and Vanessa Reading, MA, LLP.

Re-Entry Simulations

By Deedee Taylor, AAS, BSW, President & Founder of Taylor Made Re-Entry

Taylor Made Re-Entry is a nonprofit organization that supports justice-impacted individuals and their families as they navigate the challenges of reentry after incarceration. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, Taylor Made Re-Entry works to reduce barriers, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for successful reintegration.

Celebrating Two Years at the FOCB

By Jamie Eichenberg and Lara Markovitz

This summer marked Jamie Eichenberg’s and Lara Markovitz’s two-year anniversary with the Friend of the Court Bureau (FOCB), where they serve as analysts. The Pundit asks them to reflect on their journeys to the FOCB and share their impressions of their work during these first years.

Reflections on the 2026 ERICSA Conference

By Jamie Eichenberg, Court Analyst, SCAO FOCB

The Eastern Regional Interstate Child Support Association (ERICSA) held its annual conference this year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bringing together child support professionals from across the world with attendees from states, tribes, and countries. Although the word interstate appears in the organization’s name, the conference offers far more than intergovernmental information. ERICSA has become one of the most rewarding learning opportunities in the child support field, offering a wide range of sessions designed for workers at every level of the child support program. 

Neurodiversity Training

By Tanner Hickman, FOCB Analyst, SCAO

Increase Understanding

The Friend of the Court Bureau is developing training to support families friend of the court (FOC) offices serve by better understanding neurodiversity. The Bureau is excited to begin offering brief training opportunities to FOC offices across the state.

Neurodiversity is the idea that differences in how people think, process information, communicate, and regulate emotions are natural variations on the continuum of being human. Some individuals may be considered neurodivergent while others are neurotypical. These differences are not always obvious, but they often show up in meaningful ways in how people engage with systems like the FOC.

Welcome to the Navigator Program

The Michigan Child Support Program is piloting a new initiative to help families navigate the child support system. The idea came about after members of the Michigan Office of Child Support (OCS) Community Advisory Council shared stories about the confusion and frustration they often felt while trying to make their way through a system that isn’t widely understood and recommended that the program pursue a child support navigator-style pilot program.

How Can I Help You: The Importance of Accessible Legal Services to the Friend of the Court

By Ashley Kasper

My time working for the Friend of the Court Bureau has been immensely fulfilling, intertwining my passion for the law with a sense of purpose. My role has allowed me to navigate the intricacies of legal processes and provided a platform to apply the skills I developed volunteering in Wayne County. My volunteer experience helped me foster a deep understanding of community dynamics and enhanced my ability to serve with empathy and efficiency. 

Guy Jacobson Reflects on His Retirement

 

Guy Jacobson

As all things must come to an end, I’m retiring after 36 years of working at the Friend of the Court offices in Muskegon and Kent Counties, and I have been asked   to describe what it has been like to work in this unique and often misunderstood family division of the circuit court.