Friend of the Court

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Citizen Advisory Committee

The Citizen Advisory Committee was established by Michigan law (MCLA 552.504) to advise the Court and the County Board of Commissioners regarding the office of the Friend of the Court. According to law, the committee shall be composed of an advocate for children, a representative of non-custodial parents, a representative of custodial parents, an attorney who engages primarily in family practice, the county sheriff or designee, the director of the Family Independence Agency or designee, a mental health professional who provides family counseling, a member of the general public who is not a member who could serve on the committee in one of the other listed categories. The members are appointed for a renewable 3-year term.

The committee's responsibility is to review and investigate grievances concerning the Friend of the Court operation, as established under Michigan law (MCLA 552.524). The committee advises the Court and the County Board of Commissioners regarding the office of the Friend of the Court, its duties and performance, and the community's needs relative to the services provided by the Friend of the Court.

Meetings are usually the first Monday of each odd numbered month at 12:00 noon in the Board of Commissioners meeting room on the 3rd floor of the County Administration Building. Confirmation may be obtained from the Board of Commissioner's office.

The Citizen's Advisory Committee Members for 2012:

Judy Ostrander, Chair Attorney
Lupe Ramos-Montigny, Vice Chair Child Advocate
Melissa Rincones Department of Human Services Designee
Mark Vermeer Prosecuting Attorney's Designee
Lt. Scott Nibbelink Sheriff's Designee
Darlene O'Neal Custodial Parent
Chuck Riley Non-Custodial Parent
Bishop Walter Durham Member of General Public
Leah Brinks Mental Health

Citizen's Advisory Committee Public Meetings Calendar for 2012

  • Monday, January 9, 2012*
  • Monday, March 5, 2012
    12:00pm - 1:00pm
    Friend of the Court Citizens Advisory Committee
    Friend of the Court, 82 Ionia, Ste. 200
  • Monday, May 7, 2012
  • Monday, July 2, 2012
  • Monday, September 10, 2012*
  • Monday, November 5, 2012
* Meeting to be held the second Monday of the month

Meetings begin at 12 noon - County Administration Building - 300 Monroe Ave. - Room 311 – 3rd Floor - (unless noted otherwise)

Questions & Answers

Who can serve on the citizen advisory committee?
The committee is composed of the following members, each of whom must be a resident of the county:
  1. An advocate for children.
  2. A representative of non-custodial parents.
  3. A representative of custodial parents.
  4. An attorney who engages primarily in family law practice.
  5. The county sheriff or the sheriff's designee.
  6. The prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney's designee.
  7. The director of the family independence agency or the director's designee.
  8. A mental health professional who provides family counseling.
  9. A member of the general public who is not an individual who could serve on the committee in a category listed above.
Who appoints members to the citizen advisory committee?
The Kent County Board of Commissioners appoints public members of the Citizen Advisory Committee members. Neither the Friend of the Court nor Chief Judge appoints members to the committee. If you wish to serve on the committee, you should contact the Board of Commissioners' Office for information on how to apply.
What authority does the committee have?
A citizen advisory committee is advisory only. The responsibilities of the committee are to:
  1. Meet not less than six (6) times annually, keep minutes of each meeting and submit a copy of the minutes to the county board;
  2. Review and investigate grievances filed with the committee concerning Friend of the Court operations.
  3. Advise the court and the county board on:
    • the office of the Friend of the Court
    • the Friend of the Court duties and performance; and
    • community needs relating to office services.
  4. Submit an annual report of its activities to the county board, court, state court administrative office, governor's office and the senate and house committees and appropriations subcommittees that are responsible for legislation concerning the judicial branch.
Can I attend citizen advisory committee meetings?
A citizen advisory committee meeting is open to the public. Members of the public must be given an opportunity to comment on any issue under consideration. If a vote is to be taken by the committee, the public must be allowed to comment before the vote is taken. A citizen advisory committee meeting is not open to the public while the committee is reviewing, investigating or holding a hearing on a grievance.
How do I find out when and where the citizen advisory committee for my friend of the court meets?
Your County Board of Commissioners, the county administrator can tell you how to obtain information about citizen advisory committee meeting places and times. The Friend of the Court office may have this information available, if provided by the committee.
What if I have a complaint about the Friend of the Court?
A party who has a complaint concerning Friend of the Court office operations or employees may use the grievance procedure. Forms to file the grievance should be available at your local friend of the court office.
  1. File the grievance, in writing, with the Friend of the Court office where your case is located. The office is required to investigate and decide the grievance within 30 days or give the party filing the reason why a response is not possible within that time.
  2. A party who is not satisfied with the decision of the Friend of the Court office may file a further grievance, in writing, with chief judge of the circuit court. The chief judge is required to investigate and decide the grievance within 30 days or give the party filing the grievance the reason why a response is not possible within that time.
  3. At any time during the grievance procedure, a party with a complaint regarding office operations may file a written grievance with the citizen advisory committee. In its discretion, the committee will conduct a review or investigation of, or hold a hearing on, the grievance. The citizen advisory committee reviews or investigates a grievance, the committee must respond to the grievance within a reasonable period of time.
Can I file a grievance against a Friend of the Court employee or court order with the citizen advisory committee?
No, a grievance filed with the citizen advisory committee can only be about office operations. The committee cannot review grievances about an employee, a recommendation or the content of a court order or office decision.
How does the committee review the performance of the Friend of the Court if no grievances are submitted directly to the committee?
The committee is required to randomly select and review grievances submitted to the office of the Friend of the Court, as well as the friend of the court response to the grievances. The committee must report its findings to the court and the county board, either immediately or in its annual report. Finally, the citizen advisory committee must examine grievances filed with the Friend of the Court and review or investigate each grievance that claims a decision by a friend of the court employee was made based on gender rather than the best interests of the child.
What does the citizen advisory committee do after it reviews a grievance?
The committee advises the county board and the circuit court on the performance of the Friend of the Court. The committee's conclusions about grievances reviewed should be part of the information provided to the court and county board. The committee has no authority to make changes in the Friend of the Court procedures recommendations or court orders.