--- title: "Karen Fort Hood | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-fort-hood-7560" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Karen Fort Hood Michigan Court of Appeals · Judge ## Profile - Court: Michigan Court of Appeals - State: Michigan - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals, 2002-present - Chief Justice Bridget McCormack noted that what mattered most in her was fairness and impartiality - Widely respected for her fairness, impartiality, and compassion, and for bringing a deep understanding of “justice for all” to the bench - Her colleagues and peers remembered her grace, dignity, and warmth, as well as her ability to balance justice with mercy - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel: remembered her kindness and compassion - State Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack: honored her as a trailblazer and committed public servant ### Education - Michigan State University College of Law - B.A. from Regents College (University of the State of New York at Albany) and a J.D. from the Detroit College of Law ### Additional information - Judge Fort Hood died suddenly on August 15, 2021, at age 68. - In 2019, she was Chairperson of the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, which investigates ethics complaints against judges - Elected to the Court of Appeals in 2002 and took office in 2003. - Karen Fort Hood was born August 26, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan. - Date of birth: 1953-08-26 - Before her appellate role, she held the role of a special assistant prosecutor and assistant prosecuting attorney for the juvenile and appellate divisions of the Wayne County prosecutor’s office - Birth place: Detroit ## 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.courtlistener.com/person/7560/karen-fort-hood/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7560/karen-fort-hood/) - [Michigan Court of Appeals current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7560/karen-fort-hood/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7560/karen-fort-hood/) - [Wikidata: Karen Fort Hood](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13560954) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-fort-hood-7560", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-fort-hood-7560", "name": "Karen Fort Hood | KnowJudges", "description": "Karen Fort Hood, Michigan Court of Appeals. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-fort-hood-7560#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-fort-hood-7560#judge", "name": "Karen Fort Hood", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-fort-hood-7560", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Michigan Court of Appeals" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7560/karen-fort-hood/" ], "birthDate": "1953-08-26", "birthPlace": "Detroit", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Michigan State University College of Law" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Michigan", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/michigan" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karen Fort Hood", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-fort-hood-7560" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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. - [Michigan Court Rules — Court of Appeals proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-ca06979bc04146487fb59a31) — Michigan Court of Appeals proceedings only; retained September 2, 2026 compilation. Source exceptions and later amendments apply. [Official source](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/michigan-court-rules.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.