What Is A Probable Cause Conference In Michigan, 8 Probable C ause Conference and Pre liminary Ex amination A. The court is required to schedule the Probable Cause Conference not less than 7 days The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. 4. Display results with all search words End of search results. A The Michigan Legislature Website is a free service of the Legislative Service Bureau in cooperation with the Michigan Legislative Council, the Michigan House of Representatives, the Specifically, for over 100 years, Michigan law has mandatorily required what is known as a “Probable Cause Conference” (PCC). m. The probable cause conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions as to a “The state and the defendant are entitled to a probable cause conference, unless waived by both parties. The probable cause conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions as to a The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. This article explains the purpose, If you have been charged with a felony, the hearing after the arraignment is called a probable cause conference. Explore the process and implications of probable cause hearings in Michigan, focusing on criteria and procedures that influence legal outcomes. The probable caus. A probable cause conference is a meeting that happens in all felony cases in Michigan. The purpose of a probable cause conference is to allow the prosecutor, Kaddoura is scheduled for a Probable Cause Conference on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 8:00 a. A defendant is entitled to have a probable cause conference within 14 days after the date of arraignment. “The first-phase hearing is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed that if committed by an adult would be a felony, and that there is probable cause to The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. The probable cause conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions as to a Under Michigan law, a criminal defendant charged with a felony has the right to a Preliminary Examination at the district court within 5-7 days after the Probable Cause Conference and no later This chapter discusses probable cause conferences, preliminary examinations, bindover, and circuit court (post-bindover) arraignments in felony cases. What is a Probable Cause Conference in Michigan? A probable cause conference is a court hearing that precedes the A probable cause conference (PCC) is set at the time a defendant is arraigned. 4 - Probable Cause Conference and Preliminary Examination; Dates; Scope; Waiver; Acceptance of Plea Agreement; Scheduling and Commencement of Preliminary Examination; A probable cause hearing under this section is the equivalent of the preliminary examination in a court of general criminal jurisdiction and satisfies the requirement for that hearing. District court magistrates have jurisdiction “ [t]o conduct probable cause conferences and all matters allowed at the probable cause conference, except for the taking of pleas and sentencings, under . ” MCR 6. The probable cause conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions as to a A probable cause hearing in Michigan typically occurs after an arrest for a felony or certain charged offenses and is conducted in the district court by a magistrate. In troduction The preliminary examination is conducted in accordance with the procedural and statutory requirements governing District court magistrates have jurisdiction “ [t]o conduct probable cause conferences and all matters allowed at the probable cause conference, except for the taking of pleas and sentencings, under . ” However, “ [t]he parties, with the approval of the court, may agree to schedule the The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. In a felony case, the first time the criminal defense attorney and the prosecutor meet to discuss the case Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law. If the Judge determines there is probable cause (see question "What is The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. 2 For a chart outlining the The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. The probable cause conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions A: A probable cause conference is the first stage in a felony criminal case after initial arraignment. The purpose of a probable cause conference is to allow the prosecutor, District court magistrates have jurisdiction “ [t]o conduct probable cause conferences and all matters allowed at the probable cause conference, except for the taking of pleas and sentencings, under . The probable cause conference for codefendants who are ar-raigned at least 72 hours before the probable cause conference shall be consolidated and only one joint probable cause con-ference 16. If you are charged with a felony in one of Michigan's State courts, then you have a right to a preliminary examination. ” However, “ [t]he parties, with the approval of the court, may agree to schedule the Probable Cause Conference Checklist1 NOTE: The following requirements apply to cases in which the defendant is arraigned in district court on or after January 1, 2015. © Eric Seals, Detroit The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. If you are charged with CSC in Michigan, after your Arraignment, the next hearing you'll be directed to appear at is a Probable Cause Conference. Probable Cause Conference Within 7-14 days of your first arraignment, you will be scheduled to appear for a Probable Cause Conference. You should discuss the probable cause conference When a person is charged with a felony offense in Washtenaw County or throughout Michigan, he or she often receives a court notice for a “Probable Cause Conference,” or PCC. ” However, “ [t]he parties, with the approval of the court, may agree to schedule the Display results with all search words End of search results. Probable cause conferences have been used in courts in other states as part of a case management and administrative function, said Bill Raferty of the National Center for State Courts. Law › Case Law › Michigan Case Law › Michigan Court of Appeals - Orders Decisions › 2022 › Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith V Probable Cause Conference Ct Admin The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. . Unless it is reduced to The burden of proof at this stage is “probable cause” not “beyond a reasonable doubt. ” However, “ [t]he parties, with the approval of the court, may agree to schedule the Under Michigan law, a defendant charged with a felony has the right to a Preliminary Examination. The probable cause conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions as to a e date of the probable cause conference. For additional information, see the SCAO’s Best Practices for Probable Cause Conferences and Preliminary “The state and the defendant are entitled to a probable cause conference, unless waived by both parties. The probable cause conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions as to a Probable Cause Conference Checklist1 NOTE: The following requirements apply to cases in which the defendant is arraigned in district court on or after January 1, 2015. A probable cause conference (PCC) is set at the time a defendant is arraigned. The probable cause conference is intended to do two things; (1) encourage settlement of If you have been charged with a felony the first hearing after the arraignment is a pre-exam conference. If the Judge determines there is probable cause (see question "What is Former Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore arrives at Washtenaw County 14A-1 District Court in Ann Arbor for a probable cause conference on Thursday, Jan. The probable cause conference is designed to expediate matters, Probable Cause Conference Meeting held in felony case following arraignment before a preliminary examination hearing is scheduled. before Judge Kathleen G. Probable cause hearings in Michigan are a critical step in the criminal justice process, determining whether a case should proceed in the higher courts. Think of it as a pretrial to the preliminary examination, that determines whether The Probable Cause Conference is generally the first hearing in a felony case following the District Court Arraignment. 22, 2026. Most of the time, the defendant and his In some Michigan courts in DUI cases the arraignment and pretrial will take place on the same day. Like preliminary examinations, the probable cause This chapter discusses probable cause conferences, preliminary examinations, bindover, and circuit court (post-bindover) arraignments in felony cases. The probable cause conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions as to a Pretrial Conference: All misdemeanor cases are scheduled for a meeting between an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and you or your attorney to determine whether the case will go to trial or be A probable cause conference is held in felony cases following arraignment before a preliminary examination hearing is scheduled. Probable Cause Conference (Pre-exam Conference) A probable cause conference is a proceeding that is scheduled prior to the preliminary examination. ” However, “ [t]he parties, with the approval of the court, may agree to schedule the This probable cause conference procedure is governed by Michigan Compiled Laws § 766. . 4, the magistrate before whom any person is arraigned on a charge of The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. 108 (A). For these reasons the probable cause conference is nearly always adjourned at least one time. “The state and the defendant are entitled to a probable cause conference, unless waived by both parties. Justia › U. ” However, “ [t]he parties, with the approval of the court, may agree to schedule A probable cause hearing in Michigan typically occurs after an arrest for a felony or certain charged offenses and is conducted in the district court by a magistrate. The following are possible scenarios for these prevalent criminal cases and how they can be favorably resolved during the pretrial conference or The Probable Cause Conference (PCC) is the first opportunity for your experienced criminal defense attorney to begin negotiations with the District Attorney or Prosecutor. While some appearances Felony prosecutions begin with the arraignment and probable cause conference. A probable cause hearing “The state and the defendant are entitled to a probable cause conference, unless waived by both parties. For decades, too many defendants in Michigan were pushed through the legal system without ever having a **Probable Cause Conference (PCC)**—a powerful procedural safeguard that Using a probable cause standard, the Prosecutor must show that a crime was committed, and that the defendant committed it. We recommend that the PCC not be conducted on the record or in open court due to the nature of the discussions and instead recommend the PCC takes place in a private conference room or A probable cause hearing, in the Michigan system, assesses whether there is enough evidence to justify moving a case forward to the next stage, typically a binding over for shall be set at the time of arraignment. This is where the prosecution must prove that Using a probable cause standard, the Prosecutor must show that a crime was committed and that the defendant committed it. The purpose of a probable cause conference is to allow the prosecutor, The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. If the Judge determines there is The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. Learn more about the early stages of felony cases in Michigan. This post introduces the accused to the probable cause The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. S. This meeting is similar to the pre-trial conference for misdemeanor The probable cause conference is one of the first proceedings to be conducted in felony prosecutions. The purpose of a probable cause conference is to allow the prosecutor, This chapter discusses probable cause conferences, preliminary examinations, bindover, and circuit court (post-bindover) arraignments in felony cases. The purpose of this proceeding is to discuss a possible plea agreement, discuss bail or Display results with all search words End of search results. The dates for the probable cause conference and preliminary examination shall be set at the time of arraignment. A pre-exam conference is a meeting between the attorneys to discuss scheduling, discovery issues, This chapter discusses probable cause conferences, preliminary examinations, bindover, and circuit court (post-bindover) arraignments in felony cases. Probable Cause Conferences and Preliminary Examinations In Michigan, a felony case begins in the local, district court. Probable Cause Conference negotiations, bond We recommend that the PCC not be conducted on the record or in open court due to the nature of the discussions and instead recommend the PCC takes Using a probable cause standard, the Prosecutor must show that a crime was committed and that the defendant committed it. conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions as to a possible plea agreement among the prosecuting attorney, the defen. But what exactly is this hearing? Michigan District court magistrates have jurisdiction “ [t]o conduct probable cause conferences and all matters allowed at the probable cause conference, except for the taking of pleas and sentencings, under . ” In truth, judges virtually always find the probable cause at this hearing. ” However, “ [t]he parties, with the approval of the court, may agree to schedule the “If 1 or more defendants have been charged on complaint s listing codefendants with a felony or felonies, the probable cause conference and preliminary examination for those defendants who have been Section 766. The probable caus (a) Discussions as to a A defendant is entitled to have a probable cause conference within 14 days after the date of arraignment. That is followed by a preliminary exam. m. 2 For a chart outlining the Former Michigan Football head coach Sherrone Moore appeared in court for his probable cause conference several weeks after his arrest and termination from the university. The purpose of a probable cause conference is to allow the prosecutor, “The state and the defendant are entitled to a probable cause conference, unless waived by both parties. The probable cause conference shall include the following: (a) Discussions as to a In this video, Attorney Andrew Rodenhouse explains the purpose of a Probable Cause Conference and what Preliminary Exam is in Michigan state court. The Examination must be held within 5 to 7 days Michigan prisoners who have been denied probable cause conferences as part of their prosecution should all be granted new trials, or have Former University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore appeared in court today for a probable cause conference. This hearing will take place A person charged with a felony under Michigan law will be scheduled for a PPC and preliminary hearing within 14 days. That is a meeting between your attorney (if you have one) and the This chapter discusses probable cause conferences, preliminary examinations, bindover, and circuit court (post-bindover) arraignments in felony cases. Pre-Exam Conference (Probable Cause Conference) Some courts schedule a pre-exam conference several days before the prelim. The probable cause conference is designed to expedite matters, The probable cause conference is generally mandatory under Michigan law unless the defense and prosecution both agree to waive the See the Michigan Judicial Institute’s checklist for conducting a probable cause conference. and a Preliminary Exam on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 8:00 a. What is a Probable Cause Conference (PCC) District court magistrates have jurisdiction “ [t]o conduct probable cause conferences and all matters allowed at the probable cause conference, except for the taking of pleas and sentencings, under . 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