Navigating Funding Unit Disputes for Trial Courts

John Fraser and Erin Sedmak served as featured speakers for the webinar, “Navigating Funding Unit Disputes for Trial Courts,” Hosted by the Michigan Judicial Institute on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The webinar provided an overview of the legal obligations and relationships of trial courts with their funding unit. It included an overview of the case law surrounding serviceability and a description of the legal obligations of trial courts and their funding units. We provide practical considerations for trial courts in navigating operational or funding disputes with their funding units. Lastly, Fraser and Sedmak discussed the procedural steps required under AO 1998-5 and the Uniform Budget and Accounting Act for a trial court to file litigation against its funding unit.

Approximately 200 judges and court administrators from the State of Michigan attended the webinar.