Michigan Federal Appeals

Michigan Federal Appeals Guide — Districts & Circuits

Which federal district court and circuit hear federal cases arising in Michigan, and how a federal criminal appeal works under the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Federal Appeals in Michigan at a Glance

Judicial District(s)
two judicial districts: the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
Circuit
Sixth Circuit
Criminal Notice of Appeal
14 days (Fed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1)(A))
Civil Notice of Appeal
30 days (28 U.S.C. § 2107(a))
60 days when the United States is a party (28 U.S.C. § 2107(b)).

The Federal Judicial District(s) Covering Michigan

28 U.S.C. § 102 defines the federal district court(s) for Michigan:

“Michigan is divided into two judicial districts to be known as the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.” — 28 U.S.C. § 102

Appeals from those district courts go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Circuit membership is set by 28 U.S.C. § 41, which lists Michigan among the states of the Sixth Circuit.

How a Federal Criminal Appeal Works for a Case Arising in Michigan

Timing
The notice of appeal: 14 days
Fed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1)(A)
For a federal criminal case arising in Michigan, the defendant’s notice of appeal must be filed in the district court within 14 days. Rule 4(b)(1)(A) states: “In a criminal case, a defendant's notice of appeal must be filed in the district court within 14 days after the later of: (i) the entry of either the judgment or the order being appealed; or (ii) the filing of the government's notice of appeal.”
Jurisdiction
Appellate jurisdiction over final decisions
28 U.S.C. § 1291
The circuit court’s authority to hear the appeal rests on 28 U.S.C. § 1291: “The courts of appeals (other than the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) shall have jurisdiction of appeals from all final decisions of the district courts of the United States, the United States District Court for the District of the Canal Zone, the District Court of Guam, and the District Court of the Virgin Islands, except where a direct review may be had in the Supreme Court.”
Civil cases
Thirty days in civil matters
28 U.S.C. § 2107(a)
In civil cases, 28 U.S.C. § 2107(a) provides: “Except as otherwise provided in this section, no appeal shall bring any judgment, order or decree in an action, suit or proceeding of a civil nature before a court of appeals for review unless notice of appeal is filed, within thirty days after the entry of such judgment, order or decree.” The same section sets a 60-day period when the United States is a party.

Additional research notes are published as new court decisions are issued.

Primary sources

Explore Federal Appeals Guides in Other States

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
View All 50 States →

About the Research Desk

Fedcriminalappeals is maintained as an editorial research archive for this topic. It summarizes public materials, case law, and statute-level references without offering intake or representation.

Editorial Policy

Every page is written in a neutral research voice. We do not publish attorney persona copy, client-matching language, fake reviews, or consultation CTAs.

Citations Notice

Case references, statute numbers, and procedural rules are cited where relevant. Readers should verify authorities before relying on any summary.

Publisher: Federal Appeals Research Desk — Federal Appeals Research Desk

Publisher: Federal Appeals Research Desk — Federal Appeals Research Desk

Publisher: Federal Appeals Research Desk — Federal Appeals Research Desk