--- title: "Mark J. Cavanagh | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-cavanagh-7537" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Mark J. Cavanagh Michigan Court of Appeals · Judge ## Profile - Court: Michigan Court of Appeals - State: Michigan - Role: Judge - Service status: former - 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, 1988-present - Judge – District 2 of the Michigan Court of Appeals, a state intermediate appellate court that hears appeals from certain trial court cases ### Education - Detroit College of Law — J.D. ### Additional information - He was first elected in 1989 and re‐elected in the November 3, 2020 general election, defeating Jonathan Tukel with 57% of the vote. - Cavanagh’s tenure spans over three decades, making him one of Michigan’s long‐serving appellate judges - He also served in various legal roles prior to his judicial appointment - Birth place: Detroit on Aug ## 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/7537/mark-j-cavanagh/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7537/mark-j-cavanagh/) - [Michigan Court of Appeals current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7537/mark-j-cavanagh/) - [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/7537/mark-j-cavanagh/) - [Mark Cavanagh - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Cavanagh) - [JUDGE MARK J. CAVANAGH - Michigan Lawyers Weekly](https://milawyersweekly.com/news/1998/08/10/judge-mark-j-cavanagh-2) - [Michigan Court of Appeals 2025 Annual Report](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/49e82a/siteassets/reports/coa/annualreports/annualreport2025.pdf) - [2024 Annual Report, Judicial Chambers: explicit retirements](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/49ad19/siteassets/reports/coa/annualreports/annualreport2024.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7537/mark-j-cavanagh/) - [Mark Cavanagh - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Cavanagh) - [JUDGE MARK J. CAVANAGH - Michigan Lawyers Weekly](https://milawyersweekly.com/news/1998/08/10/judge-mark-j-cavanagh-2) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-cavanagh-7537", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-cavanagh-7537", "name": "Mark J. Cavanagh | KnowJudges", "description": "Mark J. Cavanagh, Michigan Court of Appeals. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-cavanagh-7537#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-cavanagh-7537#judge", "name": "Mark J. Cavanagh", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-cavanagh-7537", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Michigan Court of Appeals" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7537/mark-j-cavanagh/" ], "birthPlace": "Detroit on Aug", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Detroit 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": "Mark J. Cavanagh", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-cavanagh-7537" } ] } ] } ```