---
title: "Michael Kainen | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-kainen-vt-trial"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Michael Kainen

Vermont Superior Court · Superior Judge

## Profile

- Court: Vermont Superior Court
- State: Vermont
- Role: Superior Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Vermont Superior Court judge; appointed by Governor Peter Shumlin on January 4, 2016, to succeed John Wesley
- Private civil and criminal practice, 1993–2007; acting district judge in Orange and Windsor counties
- Windsor County state's attorney and Orange County deputy state's attorney

### Education

- J.D. and M.S.L., Vermont Law School, 1992.

### Additional information

- Executive director of the Vermont Sentencing Commission, 2007–2008.
- Vermont House of Representatives member, 1998–2006, serving on the Judiciary and Judicial Rules committees.
- He and his wife have three children and were licensed foster parents for five years, 1995–2000.
- Served in civil, criminal, family and probate divisions, including Essex, Caledonia, Bennington and Windham counties.

## 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

### digital evidence submission

Scope: statewide

Vermont Judiciary directs users to upload non-flat-PDF digital exhibits, including audio, video, and active hyperlinks, through its Digital Evidence Portal; flat PDFs should not be filed in that portal.

Evidence excerpt: The Digital Evidence Portal is to be used solely for uploading exhibits in file formats other than flat PDF format. Examples ... include audio recordings, video recordings, or active hyperlinks to web-based content. Flat PDF files should not be filed in the Digital Evidence Portal.

[Vermont Judiciary Digital Evidence Portal](https://evidence.vermontjudiciary.org/TraQ7/account/caseuser)
Source checked: 2026-07-27


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.vtcourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2026-2027%20rotation%20as%20approved%204.7.26.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://www.vtcourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2026-2027%20rotation%20as%20approved%204.7.26.pdf)
- [Vermont Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.vtcourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2026-2027%20rotation%20as%20approved%204.7.26.pdf)
- [Vermont Judiciary Digital Evidence Portal](https://evidence.vermontjudiciary.org/TraQ7/account/caseuser)
- [John Pacht, Mary Morrissey, Michael Kainen, and Michael Harris appointed trial judges | Vermont Business Magazine](https://vermontbiz.com/news/2016/january/04/john-pacht-mary-morrissey-michael-kainen-and-michael-harris-appointed-trial)

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