# Joshua M. Farrell

Chief Judge · [80th District Court](/kyj/court/mi/80th-district-court-clare)

Last updated October 7, 2026

## Joshua M. Farrell at a glance

Current role

Chief Judge

Court

[80th District Court](/kyj/court/mi/80th-district-court-clare)

Jurisdiction

Michigan · State

Judicial service

Active

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge Farrell has a long-standing judicial career and is recognized for his service in the local Michigan court system

- Judge Farrell’s tenure and experience make him a central figure in the administration of justice in Clare and Gladwin Counties

- The District Court judge for the 80th District, which includes Clare County and Gladwin County, Michigan

### Education

### Additional information

- First elected to the bench in 2008 and has presided over a wide range of cases, including criminal matters, traffic violations, civil infractions, misdemeanors, felonies (which proceed to Circuit Court after arraignment), and civil suits with claims up to $25,000

- overseeing both criminal and civil proceedings in the District Court

## Applicable Court Rules & Procedures

Rules last checked July 26, 2026 .

### Remote appearances

Michigan courts may determine the manner and extent of videoconferencing technology, subject to participant requests and suitability factors under MCR 2.407.

If a Michigan proceeding will be held by videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of how to access it.

### Recording and broadcasting

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.

### Device Use

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.

## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

80th District Court

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.

## Sources

Identity source checked July 26, 2026 .

Biography sources checked July 26, 2026 .

### Michigan Courts official judicial roster

Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026

### Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing

Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026

### Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices

Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026

[Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections)