# Tara S. Hovey

Circuit Judge · [55th Circuit Court](/kyj/court/mi/55th-circuit-court-clare)

Last updated October 7, 2026

## Tara S. Hovey at a glance

Current role

Circuit Judge

Court

[55th Circuit Court](/kyj/court/mi/55th-circuit-court-clare)

Jurisdiction

Michigan · State

Judicial service

Active

## Biography

### Professional career

- Joined the 55th Circuit Court of Clare and Gladwin Counties to fill the seat vacated by Judge Thomas R. Evans, with her term commencing on October 11, 2022, and initially set to expire on January 1, 2025

- Hovey also held the role of corporate counsel for Gladwin County, worked with the indigent defense program in Clare County Circuit and District Courts, and currently serves as city attorney for the City of Beaverton

- Additionally, she is a co-owner of the Clare County Title Company and has taught law enforcement, evidence, and business law as an adjunct professor at Mid Michigan Community College State of Michigan

### Education

- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Ohio Northern University College of Law in 1995.

- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Michigan University in 1992

### Additional information

- If she chooses to continue serving, she would need to run for reelection to complete the remainder of the term expiring in 2027

- Before her appointment to the circuit court, Hovey ran for a judgeship on the Clare/Gladwin County Probate Court in 2012, advancing from the primary but losing in the general election.

- Beyond her legal practice, Hovey is actively involved in community 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

55th Circuit 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.

55th Circuit Court

Michigan Circuit Court appellate proceedings only; retained September 2, 2026 compilation. Source exceptions and later amendments apply.

## 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)