# Robert A. Cooney

Chief Judge · [86th District Court](/kyj/court/mi/86th-district-court-antrim)

Last updated October 7, 2026

## Robert A. Cooney at a glance

Current role

Chief Judge

Court

[86th District Court](/kyj/court/mi/86th-district-court-antrim)

Jurisdiction

Michigan · State

Judicial service

Active

## Biography

### Professional career

- The Chief Judge of Michigan’s 86th District Court, serving Antrim, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse Counties since his election in 2018

- 2005–2012: Deputy Civil Counsel, Grand Traverse County

- 1993–2005: Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Grand Traverse County

- 1992–1993: Pre‐hearing Attorney, Michigan Court of Appeals

### Education

- J.D. magna cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law in 1992

- B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University

### Additional information

- He has received the Crime Fighters Award from Fight Crime Invest in Kids and the Munson Health Care Health Hero Award (2018) for work against the opioid crisis.

- U.S. Army Engineer (1987–1992) while earning his law degree

- He is also a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and active in local Rotary Club and youth sports organizations

## Applicable Court Rules & Procedures

Rules last checked July 26, 2026 .

### Remote appearances

Michigan courts may determine the manner and extent of videoconferencing technology, subject to participant requests and suitability factors under MCR 2.407.

If a Michigan proceeding will be held by videoconferencing technology, the court must provide reasonable notice of how to access it.

### Recording and broadcasting

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.

### Device Use

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.

## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

86th District Court

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.

## Sources

Identity source checked July 26, 2026 .

Biography sources checked July 26, 2026 .

### Michigan Courts official judicial roster

Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026

### Michigan Court Rule 2.407, Videoconferencing

Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026

### Michigan Court Rule 8.115, Courthouse Decorum and Portable Electronic Devices

Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026

[Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections)