The Honorable Julia B. Owdziej

 Term

Term expires January 2027.

About the Honorable Julia B. Owdziej

Judge Julia B. Owdziej was appointed Probate Judge on June 3, 2014 and was elected by the Washtenaw County voters in November of 2014 and 2020. She currently serves as Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Division.

She holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law. Judge Owdziej began her legal career as an Assistant Michigan Attorney General.

She began serving the citizens of Washtenaw County in 1991 as an Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney. In 1999 she was appointed a Washtenaw County Trial Court Referee and later added the duties of Washtenaw County Juvenile Drug Court Referee and Deputy Probate Register.

Community Participation

Judge Owdziej has also served the community in various other capacities including as Board member for the Center for Occupational and Personalized Education (COPE) and as a long time Washtenaw County 4-H leader. She is a member of the State Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee.

Cases

Judge Owdziej is currently assigned to all trust inter vivos cases (TV), all conservator cases (CA, Minor CY) and all guardian cases (minor GM/LG, legally incapacitated GA/GL and developmentally disabled DD).  

Effective 4/3/23, Judge Owdziej will also be assigned Judge Conlin’s civil cases.

CIVIL CASES:

Pre-trials are in person, and only attorneys are required to attend.  Substantive issues are discussed.  Pre-trials are with Judicial Attorney Teresa Killeen in Room 2108.

Settlement conferences are in person, and attorneys, parties, and anyone necessary for settlement must attend in person.  Settlement conferences are with Judicial Attorney in Room 2108.

Motions, including motions for summary disposition, may be via Zoom or in person.  Each attorney may decide for themselves.

Motions are heard every Wednesday at 9:00.

MSDs are heard every Wednesday at 10:00.

Motion dates may be obtained from Central Assignment:  734-222-3383.

Judge’s Copies are to be delivered to the Clerk’s Office or to chambers.

Proposed Orders:  Proposed orders for motions and MSDs, or responses to motions and MSDs are to be filed with the motion, and attached as the last exhibit to the motion. By filing with the motion/answer, the judge is able to see your proposed order along with the motion.  

Proposed orders are to state the specific relief the motion (or response) seeks, the legal basis for granting the relief, and the standard of proof by which the court must find on the elements addressed in the motion.  

Proposed orders are also to be filed in MIFile, so that there is an electronic copy of the order for the judge to sign at the conclusion of the hearing.  Your copy of the order is made available through MiFile.   

Requests to change scheduled dates may be made via email to Teresa Killeen ([email protected]).  You must copy opposing counsel on all communications with the court.