--- title: "Mabel Johnson Mayfield | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mabel-johnson-mayfield-mi-chief-judge-berrien-county-probate-court" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Mabel Johnson Mayfield Berrien County Probate Court · Chief Judge ## Profile - Court: Berrien County Probate Court - State: Michigan - Role: Chief 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/mabel-johnson-mayfield-mi-chief-judge-berrien-county-probate-court", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mabel-johnson-mayfield-mi-chief-judge-berrien-county-probate-court", "name": "Mabel Johnson Mayfield | KnowJudges", "description": "Mabel Johnson Mayfield, Berrien County Probate Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-07-26", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mabel-johnson-mayfield-mi-chief-judge-berrien-county-probate-court#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mabel-johnson-mayfield-mi-chief-judge-berrien-county-probate-court#judge", "name": "Mabel Johnson Mayfield", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mabel-johnson-mayfield-mi-chief-judge-berrien-county-probate-court", "jobTitle": "Chief Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Berrien County Probate Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/11" ] }, { "@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": "Mabel Johnson Mayfield", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mabel-johnson-mayfield-mi-chief-judge-berrien-county-probate-court" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - In 2026, she is running for re‐election as Berrien Probate Court Judge, unopposed, in the August 4, 2026 election - Chief Judge, Berrien County Trial Court — Appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court on January 1, 2020, she oversees the court’s operations, assigns cases to lower magistrates, sets the court schedule, and appoints magistrates for confirmation by the superior court - The Chief Judge of the Berrien County Trial Court and a long‐time judge on the Berrien County Probate Bench, with a career spanning over two decades in judicial and legal service ### Education ### Additional information - Probate Court Judge, Berrien County — Appointed in January 2000 by Governor John Engler and elected for multiple terms, she handles wills, estates, guardianship, involuntary treatment commitments, marriage licenses, and certain criminal‐related probate matters - Before becoming a judge, Mayfield served 7 years as a Juvenile Court Attorney Referee and was a 10‐year veteran of Berrien County Legal Services - Mayfield has been a Berrien County resident for more than 30 years. - Former Presiding Judge, Family Division — Managed family court cases including divorce, custody, support, legal separation, and domestic violence protection orders ## 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.