About 9th District Poll
9th District Poll is a community-driven platform for residents of Kalamazoo County, Michigan to express their approval or disapproval of elected court officials. Our goal is to increase transparency and civic engagement in local judicial elections.
Which officials are included?
We include all elected officials who serve in or alongside the Kalamazoo County court system:
- 9th Circuit Court - 7 judges handling felonies, family law (divorce, custody, juvenile cases), and major civil cases. Includes the Family Division.
- Probate Court - 3 judges handling estates, guardianships, and mental health matters. Merged with the Civil Division in 2025.
- 8th District Court - 6 judges handling misdemeanors, small claims, traffic, and landlord-tenant cases.
- County Clerk - Maintains all official court records.
What about the Friend of the Court?
The Friend of the Court (FOC) director and staff are appointed, not elected, under Michigan's Friend of the Court Act (MCL 552.501). The FOC is an employee of the circuit court, appointed by the chief circuit judge. Since these positions are not elected, they are not included in our polling. The same applies to court administrators, magistrates, and referees.
How do elections work?
Michigan judicial elections are nonpartisan and appear on the general election ballot in November. Circuit, Probate, and District Court judges all serve 6-year terms. The County Clerk serves a 4-year term.
Disclaimer
This website is not affiliated with any government entity, political party, or candidate. Polling results are informal and for informational purposes only. They do not represent scientific surveys or official election results.