President Deborah L. McNabb Kent County Courthouse 180 Ottawa, NW, Ste. 4400 Grand Rapids, 49503 (616) 632-5144 Vice President Jon T. Ferrier Kent County Courthouse 180 Ottawa, NW, Ste. 4400 Grand Rapids, 49503 (616) 632-5142 Executive Secretary Kenneth D. Randall 42nd Judicial Circuit Midland County 301 W. Main St. Midland, 48640-5183 (989) 832-6803 Recording Secretary Jean L. Dohanyos Oakland County Circuit Court 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Dept. 452 Pontiac, 48341-0452 (248) 858-0033 Treasurer David T. Elias Macomb County Friend of the Court 40 N. Main, 5th Floor Mt. Clemens, 48043 (810) 469-5754 Immediate Past President Mark D. Sherbow Oakland County Friend of the Court P.O. Box 436012 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Annex 11 Pontiac, 48341 (248) 975-4448 Board Members Kathleen Oemke Thomas G. Doetsch, Sr. Kathryne A. O'Grady Arthur R. Spears, Jr. Dennis M. Swain Past Presidents Wayne Kristal Jon T. Ferrier Ronald Foon Marie Johnson Hon. Linda Hallmark Wendelyn Machnik Karen Liwienski Vincent Welicka Philip Ingraham Zaira Maio Mark D. Sherbow

COMMENT ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO MCR 1.109 AND MCR 2.113 To: Supreme Court Clerk Re: 2002-53, Comments on Proposed Amendments to MCR 1.109 and MCR 2.113 From: Kenneth D. Randall, Executive Secretary, Referees Association of Michigan          At our Board of Directors meeting on April 10, 2003, the Referees Association of Michigan (RAM) voted to strongly support the proposed amendments to MCR 1.109 and MCR 2.113. While we recognize that the proposed amendment to MCR 1.109 would impose the additional burden on Court clerks to verify that pleadings and papers are printed in at least 12-point type, the benefit to be gained in greater readability (particularly for aging eyes!) far outweighs the burden of the cursory scanning of a pleading required to ascertain whether it violates the rule as proposed.                    One caution: MCR 2.113 appears to allow the filing of pleadings printed in pencil, while the current rule requires ink. RAM would oppose the filing of pleading and other papers in pencil due to the impermanence of such printing.                    RAM is a Special Purpose Organization recognized by the State Bar of Michigan, founded in 1984. RAM represents over one hundred Circuit Court Referees who serve as judicial officers in the Family Division of the Circuit Court. Our members conduct hearings in domestic relations cases, juvenile/children's cases and personal protection order cases, and make recommended dispositions to the Circuit Court which become court orders unless objections are filed and the Court rejects the recommended disposition after a hearing is held.                    We would be happy to provide further information or assistance on this and other proposed court rules that affect the area of Family Law, and we thank you for your attention and consideration of our position on MCR 1.109 and MCR 2.113.