The United States Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by jury in criminal prosecutions. In civil lawsuits (disputes over money, property, and other non-criminal matters), state constitutions provide for the right to trial by jury—but this right may be limited to certain types of claims. And in order to be entitled to a trial by jury in a civil matter, a party generally must file a written request for a jury trial and pay a jury fee a reasonable time before trial.
In Michigan, the right to a trial by jury in criminal prosecutions is protected under the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. For civil lawsuits, the Michigan Constitution also provides for the right to a jury trial, as outlined in Article I, Section 14. However, this right is typically limited to certain types of civil claims, such as those involving legal rights rather than equitable remedies. To exercise the right to a jury trial in a civil case, a party must usually file a written demand for a jury trial within a certain time frame as prescribed by the Michigan Court Rules. Additionally, the party requesting a jury trial may be required to pay a jury fee. If the demand is not made in a timely manner or the fee is not paid, the right to a jury trial may be waived.