Honorable Matthew J. McGivney
Chief Judge of the 44th Circuit Court & 53rd District Court
| Trial / Evidentiary Hearings: | Mondays / Tuesdays / Wednesdays |
| Motion Day: | Thursdays |
| Final Pretrial Day: | Fridays |
| Motion Practice: | All motions must be filed with the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, 204 S. Highlander Way, Howell, Michigan, 48843. All Judge’s Copies must be delivered to the Judge’s Chambers, 204 S. Highlander Way, Howell, Michigan. Courtesy copies shall be emailed to JudgeMcGivneyMotions@livgov.com. All civil motion hearings will be conducted via Zoom unless otherwise designated by Court. All evidentiary hearings and trials will be conducted in person at the 44th Circuit Court, 204 S. Highlander Way, Howell, Michigan. All adjournments and/or dismissals of motions must be made by the moving party. Any other adjournment of motion must come through a motion or stipulation and order and must be approved by the Judge. |
Judge McGivney's Forms
About Judge McGivney
Judge Matthew J. McGivney has served as Chief Judge of the 44th Circuit and 53rd District Courts since March of 2024, transitioning into the role from his prior appointment as Chief Judge Pro Tempore. In addition to his duties as chief administrator of the Livingston County Circuit and District Courts, Judge McGivney presides over a varied docket, including:
- 40% of the felony criminal cases
- 100% of the business court cases
- 100% of the juvenile delinquency cases
- 100% of the juvenile ERPO and PPO cases
- 33% of the PPO cases unrelated to a domestic case
- 34% of the adult ERPO cases unrelated to a domestic case
- 100% of the parental waiver cases
Judge McGivney takes an active leadership role in the Specialty or Problem-Solving Courts, acting as the Presiding Judge over both the Adult Drug Treatment Court as well as the Swift and Sure Sanctions Program.
2025 marks Judge McGivney’s sixth year serving on the Livingston County Circuit Court Bench. The Governor appointed Judge McGivney to the bench in 2019. He was elected in 2020 to complete the partial term of his predecessor, and then he won re-election in 2022 for a full six-year term.
Prior to taking the bench in 2019, Judge McGivney worked as a litigator and as a transactional attorney in private practice for seventeen years. As an equity partner at his law firm, he represented clients in a wide variety of matters, ranging from domestic relations, probate and estate planning to criminal defense, personal injury, and real estate matters. Judge McGivney earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science – Law and Society from Michigan State University in 1998 and then went on to attain a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law in 2001.
When he is not on the bench or supervising the operations of the Circuit and District Courts, Judge McGivney participates in the following professional associations: State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Judges Association, Livingston County Bar Association, and Detroit Catholic Central Shamrock Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in all Michigan State Courts, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
