Mich. Comp. Laws § § 600.5738
Jury trial.
Operative Text
Sec. 5738. Any party to summary proceedings may demand a trial by jury within the time and manner provided by court rule. Procedures for selecting, impaneling and otherwise governing jurors in such proceedings shall be the same as for a trial by jury in other civil actions in the same court.
Under MCL § 600.5738, any party involved in summary proceedings—such as an eviction case—has the right to request a jury trial. The request must be made within the timeframe and in the manner set out by court rules. Once a jury trial is demanded, the procedures for selecting and managing jurors follow the same rules that apply to other civil jury trials in that court.
Plain English — not legal advice.
MCL § 600.5738 means that in summary proceedings, including eviction actions, a landlord is not the only one who controls whether the case is decided by a judge or a jury—either party may demand a jury trial. Operators who manage eviction proceedings generally account for the possibility that a tenant may invoke this right, which can affect the timeline and complexity of the case. Familiarity with the applicable court rules governing the timing and manner of a jury demand helps landlords and their representatives plan accordingly.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 600.5738 gives tenants in summary proceedings, such as eviction cases, the right to demand a trial by jury rather than having a judge decide the case alone. This demand must be made within the time and in the manner specified by court rules, so understanding those deadlines is important. Tenants who want to explore this option may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Michigan court procedures.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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