--- title: "Nicholas John Christensen | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nicholas-john-christensen-mi-chief-judge-59th-district-court" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-08" --- # Nicholas John Christensen 59th District Court · Chief Judge ## Profile - Court: 59th District 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/41) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/41) - [Michigan Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/41) - [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/nicholas-john-christensen-mi-chief-judge-59th-district-court", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nicholas-john-christensen-mi-chief-judge-59th-district-court", "name": "Nicholas John Christensen | KnowJudges", "description": "Nicholas John Christensen, 59th District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-08", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nicholas-john-christensen-mi-chief-judge-59th-district-court#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nicholas-john-christensen-mi-chief-judge-59th-district-court#judge", "name": "Nicholas John Christensen", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nicholas-john-christensen-mi-chief-judge-59th-district-court", "jobTitle": "Chief Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "59th District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/api/directory/county/41" ] }, { "@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": "Nicholas John Christensen", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nicholas-john-christensen-mi-chief-judge-59th-district-court" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - On June 28, 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court appointed Christensen as chief judge to fill the remainder of a term ending December 31, 2023 - Nicholas J. Christensen is the Chief Judge of Michigan’s 59th District Court, serving Grandville and Walker in Kent County, elected in November 2022 and appointed chief judge in June 2023 - This appointment followed his election to the bench and his prior service as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Kent County Michigan Lawyers Weekly ### Education ### Additional information - Christensen’s term as elected judge began in November 2022 and runs for six years - The 59th District Court is a single‐judge court with jurisdiction over both Grandville and Walker. - The Chief Judge of the one‐judge 59th District Court, which has jurisdiction over the cities of Grandville and Walker in Kent County, Michigan. - It is part of the Michigan trial court system and is responsible for adjudicating cases in accordance with state law ## 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.