Wayne County’s 'Pioneer of Justice' and the Birth of the Friend of the Court System

By Amy Lindholm, Management Analyst, Friend of the Court Bureau

Source: Bench & Bar of Michigan: 

Nineteen Hundred Eighteen.

The work of Michigan’s first Friend of the Court began on January 12, 1918, in the chambers of Wayne County’s Third Circuit Court Judge Ira W. Jayne when 38-year-old Edward Pokorny was sworn into the new office, formed just five days earlier on January 7, 1918, by court order. 

Two Friend of the Court Employees Have Served More Than 50 Years

By the Friend of the Court Bureau

The Friend of the Court Association celebrated the 100th birthday of Michigan’s friend of the court (FOC) system with service awards, among other events, for directors across the state. Following that trend, the Pundit began asking FOC directors for information on their employees with the most years of service to the FOC. Two names were put forward, each with more than 50 years of service, and they were asked to share some observations with readers on the evolution of FOC operations. Both also shared a pre-21st century ‘throwback’ career photo.

Chief Justice McCormack Thanks Friends of the Court

By the Friend of the Court Bureau

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack joined with the Friend of the Court Association on July 26, 2019, to celebrate August 2019 as the 100th anniversary of Michigan’s Friend of the Court. The Chief Justice also attended the annual meeting of the association and swore in their officers.

Chief Justice McCormack (left) with the newest FOCA officers (left to right):
Suzanne Hollyer, Sarah Anderson, Michael LaFave, and Kristi Bray.

Providing Dignity and Support to Michigan Families

By Steven Capps, Director, SCAO Friend of the Court Bureau

[ED NOTE: The following is adapted from Steve Capps’ speeches commemorating the friend of the court 100th anniversary at the Friend of the Court Association’s summer conference in Muskegon on July 24, 2019 and at the Michigan Family Support Conference in Boyne Falls on October 4, 2019.]

Steve Capps speaking to the Friend of the Court Association on July 24, 2019.

Friend of the Court Association History

By Suzanne Hollyer, Director, Oakland County Friend of the Court, and President, Friend of the Court Association

The Friend of the Court Association (FOCA) just celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the Friend of the Court. This landmark anniversary caused association members to take a look back into our history.

Pundit Flashbacks

By the Friend of the Court Bureau

First page of the first edition of the state's child support newsletter.

As the institution of the Friend of the Court celebrates its 100th anniversary, the Pundit team reflected back on the newsletter’s history, as well. Did you know that the first edition of the state’s quarterly child support newsletter was published in July 1987 under the temporary title “Pseudonym”?

Legal Corner - December 2019

"The Legal Corner" provides a summary of recent Michigan Supreme Court and Michigan Court of Appeals decisions relevant to the child support program, as well as recently released state memoranda.