--- title: "Arthur J. Cotter | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/arthur-j-cotter-mi-district-judge-5th-district-court" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Arthur J. Cotter 5th District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: 5th District Court - State: Michigan - Role: District Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### videoconferencing Scope: statewide Michigan courts may determine the manner and extent of videoconferencing technology, subject to participant requests and suitability factors under MCR 2.407. Evidence excerpt: courts may determine the manner and extent of the use of videoconferencing technology and may require participants to attend court proceedings by videoconferencing technology [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote access notice Scope: statewide If a Michigan proceeding will be held by videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of how to access it. Evidence excerpt: If a proceeding will be held using videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of the way(s) to access that proceeding. [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording and broadcasting Scope: statewide Michigan prohibits photography, audio or video recording, broadcasting, or live streaming in a courtroom unless allowed by the presiding judge, subject to the separate media-coverage order. Evidence excerpt: In a courtroom, no one may use a portable electronic device to take photographs or for audio or video recording, broadcasting, or live streaming unless that use is specifically allowed by the Judge presiding over that courtroom. [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### device use Scope: statewide Michigan allows courtroom use of portable electronic devices for information retrieval, storage, internet access, and messaging, but requires silence and bars calls or other audible functions without court permission. Evidence excerpt: Attorneys, parties, and members of the public may use a portable electronic device in a courtroom to retrieve or to store information (including notetaking), to access the Internet, and to send and receive text messages or information. [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/11) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/11) - [Michigan Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/11) - [Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-2-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2/Court_Rules_Chapter_2.htm?rhtocid=_2) - [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/arthur-j-cotter-mi-district-judge-5th-district-court", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/arthur-j-cotter-mi-district-judge-5th-district-court", "name": "Arthur J. 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Cotter", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/arthur-j-cotter-mi-district-judge-5th-district-court" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - His career is noted for a focus on fairness and justice, and he has been a frequent presenter and trainer on legal issues for governmental agencies, schools, and civic organizations ### Education - his law degree — University of Detroit School of Law 1985 - Bachelor's degree — University of Michigan 1982 ### Additional information - Joined the 5th District Court Bench in May 2013 by Governor Rick Snyder to fill the vacancy left by Judge Angela Pasula’s election to the circuit court, and he was subsequently elected in November 2014 to a full six-year term by the voters of Berrien County, serving in the Criminal Division of the Berrien County Trial Court - Before joining the bench, he spent 27 years at the Berrien County Prosecutor's Office, serving in multiple roles including Criminal Trial Staff Attorney, head of the Juvenile Division, Chief Trial Attorney, Chief Assistant Prosecutor, and from 2006 until his judicial appointment, as the Berrien County Prosecuting Attorney - Beyond his prosecutorial and judicial work, Judge Cotter has been active in the community and professional organizations - He has held the role of board president of Child & Family Services of Southwestern Michigan, the LINK Teen Crisis Center, and the Stop the Violence Coalition of Berrien County - He has also chaired the Berrien County Human Services Advisory Council and participated in the Blossomtime Festival board - Cotter is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Berrien County Bar Association, and the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Rotary Club, and has taught Business Law courses at Southwestern Michigan College ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-2f4be1384a246c5cc0b6bc97) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm?rhtocid=_25). Collected 2026-07-26.