This Research Guide provides information on how to find cases from appellate courts in Michigan. It is intended for people who have never done legal research before. Most legal disputes are settled out of court. Settlement information is usually confidential and so not available.
Some legal disputes go to trial.
As a general rule law libraries do not carry trial transcripts. Trial decisions from Michigan courts are not available. A few legal disputes are appealed. As the term is used in this handout, a case is the written opinion of an appellate court. The Law Library subscribes to the opinions of the two appellate courts in Michigan, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.