---
title: "Michael Carpenter | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-carpenter-mi-district-judge-75th-district-court"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Michael Carpenter

75th District Court · District Judge

## Profile

- Court: 75th 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/56)
- [Official roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/56)
- [Michigan Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/56)
- [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)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Michael D. Carpenter is the presiding judge of the 75th District Court in Midland County, Michigan, appointed in 2014 and re‐elected unopposed since then
- From 2004 to 2013, Carpenter held the role of Midland County Prosecuting Attorney, re‐elected in 2008 and 2012
- Associate attorney at Mathieu & Lee before opening his own law firm in 1999

### Education



### Additional information

- He was elected in 2014 to serve out the remainder of Hart’s term and has been re‐elected unopposed in subsequent elections.
- Appointed by Governor Rick Snyder on December 5, 2013 to fill the vacancy created by Judge John Hart’s retirement.
- He also practiced criminal, family, and estate planning law as a sole practitioner
- 75th District Court, which handles criminal, civil, traffic, and other matters in Midland County.
- He has also served in leadership roles with the Michigan District Judges Association (MDJA), including chairing its technology subcommittee, and continues to teach legal update classes to law enforcement agencies statewide



## 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.
