The Michigan Supreme Court has reappointed Ottawa County’s 20th Circuit Court Chief Judge Jon Van Allsburg to the Business Court for a six-year term. The Business Court is a specialized docket of the circuit court, created by the legislature in 2012 to promote timely, effective, and predictable resolution of complex business cases. The court began operations on July 1, 2013, utilizing electronic filing, phone and video conferencing, and early intervention to promote rapid resolution of these cases. Court opinions are posted to an indexed website for public access.

“We anticipate the business court will promote the use of technology and early intervention among those litigants who are most able to make use of it,” said Judge Van Allsburg. “We will be evaluating the effectiveness of these tools and procedures in the hope that we can apply them to all cases, and ultimately reduce the time and expense involved in resolving court cases.”

Van Allsburg is an honors graduate of the Michigan State University College of Law, and joined the Circuit Court in 2005 after a 25-year career in the practice of law, during which he served as chairman of the board of the Michigan West Coast (formerly Holland Area) Chamber of Commerce. He will continue to be assigned to the Family Division of the Circuit Court, and he is also assigned to hear appeals from lower courts, municipalities, and state agencies.