A PUBLIC INTEREST PROJECT FOR GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY IN KALAMAZOO
KTA
KalamazooTransparency Act

Open data

Public data.
Public API.

Government reports, court data, and public records. Extracted from PDFs and published as structured JSON. No API keys. No authentication. Just the data.

Open access

No API keys or authentication required. All endpoints return JSON and are publicly accessible.

Structured data

Data extracted from government PDFs and reports, structured as clean JSON objects you can query and build on.

Growing archive

New endpoints are added as we collect and process data from each agency. More reports, more years, more agencies.

Base URLhttps://www.kalamazootransparencyact.com

Live endpoints

API Reference

GET/api/friend-of-the-court/judicial-resources-recommendations/{year}

Judicial Resources Recommendations

Judicial workload data for every Michigan county flagged by the State Court Administrative Office. Includes judicial need, current judges, workload percentage, and staffing recommendations.

Source: Michigan Supreme Court, SCAO

Available years

2025
Response (2025)
{
  "report": {
    "title": "2025 Judicial Resources Recommendations",
    "source": "Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office",
    "url": "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/4afb74/siteassets/reports/judicial-resources/jrr_2025_final.pdf",
    "published": "December 2025",
    "total_courts_flagged": 18,
    "total_recommended_additions": 33
  },
  "kalamazoo": {
    "judicial_need": 17.81,
    "current_judges": 15,
    "excess_or_need": 2.81,
    "avg_workload_pct": 119,
    "recommendation": "+1 circuit judgeship, +1 district judgeship",
    "resulting_workload_pct": 105,
    "note": "Kalamazoo County was not flagged in the 2019, 2015, or 2013 reports.",
    "courts": {
      "9th_circuit": {
        "name": "9th Circuit Court",
        "jurisdiction": "Kalamazoo County",
        "current_judges": 6,
        "scao_recommendation": "+1 circuit judgeship"
      },
      "probate": {
        "name": "Kalamazoo County Probate Court",
        "jurisdiction": "Kalamazoo County",
        "current_judges": 3,
        "scao_recommendation": null
      },
      "8th_district": {
        "name": "8th District Court",
        "jurisdiction": "Kalamazoo County",
        "current_judges": 6,
        "scao_recommendation": "+1 district judgeship"
      }
    },
    "history": [
      {
        "year": 2003,
        "action": "SCAO recommended reduction through attrition of one district judgeship in the 8th District Court."
      },
      {
        "year": 2009,
        "action": "SCAO recommended reduction through attrition of one district judgeship in the 8th District Court."
      }
    ],
    "legislative_action": [
      {
        "action": "Legislature approved a reduction by attrition of one district judgeship.",
        "citation": "2012 PA 19, MCL 600.8117"
      },
      {
        "action": "Legislature added a new circuit judgeship effective 2025.",
        "citation": "2022 PA 277, MCL 600.510"
      }
    ],
    "case_filings": {
      "2019": {
        "circuit": {
          "appeals": 57,
          "criminal": 1816,
          "civil": 518,
          "family": 4523
        },
        "probate": 1338,
        "district": {
          "traffic": 20141,
          "civil_infractions": 25366,
          "all_others": 0
        },
        "total": 53759
      },
      "2020": {
        "circuit": {
          "appeals": 40,
          "criminal": 1252,
          "civil": 493,
          "family": 3401
        },
        "probate": 1201,
        "district": {
          "traffic": 15479,
          "civil_infractions": 19249,
          "all_others": 0
        },
        "total": 41115
      },
      "2021": {
        "circuit": {
          "appeals": 51,
          "criminal": 1569,
          "civil": 511,
          "family": 3624
        },
        "probate": 1377,
        "district": {
          "traffic": 14538,
          "civil_infractions": 19159,
          "all_others": 0
        },
        "total": 40829
      },
      "2022": {
        "circuit": {
          "appeals": 75,
          "criminal": 1658,
          "civil": 612,
          "family": 3482
        },
        "probate": 1297,
        "district": {
          "traffic": 16097,
          "civil_infractions": 19983,
          "all_others": 0
        },
        "total": 43204
      },
      "2023": {
        "circuit": {
          "appeals": 48,
          "criminal": 1733,
          "civil": 661,
          "family": 3967
        },
        "probate": 1294,
        "district": {
          "traffic": 15294,
          "civil_infractions": 20524,
          "all_others": 0
        },
        "total": 43521
      },
      "2024": {
        "circuit": {
          "appeals": 57,
          "criminal": 1879,
          "civil": 733,
          "family": 3718
        },
        "probate": 1430,
        "district": {
          "traffic": 17520,
          "civil_infractions": 24478,
          "all_others": 0
        },
        "total": 49815
      },
      "2025": {
        "circuit": {
          "appeals": 68,
          "criminal": 1744,
          "civil": 755,
          "family": 3316
        },
        "probate": 0,
        "district": {
          "traffic": 0,
          "civil_infractions": 0,
          "all_others": 0
        },
        "total": 5883
      }
    }
  }
}
GET/api/friend-of-the-court/grievance-report/{year}

Annual Grievance Report to the Legislature

FOC grievance data for Kalamazoo County extracted from the statewide Annual Grievance Report. Includes grievances filed, issue categories, response outcomes, and corrective actions taken.

Source: Michigan Supreme Court, SCAO, Friend of the Court Bureau

Available years

20242023202220212020
Response (2024)
{
  "report": {
    "title": "40th Annual Grievance Report to the Legislature",
    "source": "Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office, Friend of the Court Bureau",
    "url": "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/496ce9/siteassets/reports/focb/grievrpt2024.pdf",
    "published": "April 2025",
    "calendar_year": 2024,
    "total_offices_reporting": 53,
    "total_foc_offices": 75
  },
  "statewide": {
    "total_filed": 372,
    "response_over_30_days": 15,
    "issues": {
      "employee": 296,
      "support": 149,
      "parenting_time": 77,
      "custody": 49,
      "gender_bias": 7,
      "other": 124
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 14,
      "acknowledged_part": 32,
      "denied": 273,
      "nongrievable": 58,
      "pending": 13
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 14,
      "personnel_action": 25,
      "no_action": 323
    }
  },
  "kalamazoo": {
    "county": "Kalamazoo",
    "total_filed": 2,
    "response_over_30_days": 0,
    "multiple_grievances": {
      "duplicate": 0,
      "same_grievance_cac": 0,
      "same_party_new": 0
    },
    "issues": {
      "employee": 1,
      "support": 0,
      "parenting_time": 1,
      "custody": 0,
      "gender_bias": 0,
      "other": 2
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 0,
      "acknowledged_part": 0,
      "denied": 0,
      "nongrievable": 2,
      "pending": 0
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 0,
      "personnel_action": 0,
      "no_action": 2
    }
  }
}
Response (2023)
{
  "report": {
    "title": "39th Annual Grievance Report to the Legislature",
    "source": "Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office, Friend of the Court Bureau",
    "url": "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/496163/siteassets/reports/focb/grievrpt2023.pdf",
    "published": "April 2024",
    "calendar_year": 2023,
    "total_offices_reporting": 41,
    "total_foc_offices": 75
  },
  "statewide": {
    "total_filed": 435,
    "response_over_30_days": 14,
    "issues": {
      "employee": 332,
      "support": 188,
      "parenting_time": 88,
      "custody": 32,
      "gender_bias": 7,
      "other": 138
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 33,
      "acknowledged_part": 40,
      "denied": 315,
      "nongrievable": 74,
      "pending": 1
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 34,
      "personnel_action": 41,
      "no_action": 364
    }
  },
  "kalamazoo": {
    "county": "Kalamazoo",
    "total_filed": 6,
    "response_over_30_days": 0,
    "multiple_grievances": {
      "duplicate": 0,
      "same_grievance_cac": 0,
      "same_party_new": 0
    },
    "issues": {
      "employee": 2,
      "support": 3,
      "parenting_time": 1,
      "custody": 0,
      "gender_bias": 0,
      "other": 2
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 0,
      "acknowledged_part": 0,
      "denied": 3,
      "nongrievable": 3,
      "pending": 0
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 0,
      "personnel_action": 0,
      "no_action": 6
    }
  }
}
Response (2022)
{
  "report": {
    "title": "38th Annual Grievance Report to the Legislature",
    "source": "Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office, Friend of the Court Bureau",
    "url": "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/496e6b/siteassets/reports/focb/grievrpt2022.pdf",
    "published": "April 2023",
    "calendar_year": 2022,
    "total_offices_reporting": 41,
    "total_foc_offices": 75
  },
  "statewide": {
    "total_filed": 342,
    "response_over_30_days": 12,
    "issues": {
      "employee": 270,
      "support": 125,
      "parenting_time": 103,
      "custody": 47,
      "gender_bias": 7,
      "other": 105
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 22,
      "acknowledged_part": 32,
      "denied": 230,
      "nongrievable": 79,
      "pending": 2
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 20,
      "personnel_action": 28,
      "no_action": 289
    }
  },
  "kalamazoo": {
    "county": "Kalamazoo",
    "total_filed": 6,
    "response_over_30_days": 0,
    "multiple_grievances": {
      "duplicate": 0,
      "same_grievance_cac": 0,
      "same_party_new": 1
    },
    "issues": {
      "employee": 6,
      "support": 2,
      "parenting_time": 0,
      "custody": 1,
      "gender_bias": 0,
      "other": 3
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 0,
      "acknowledged_part": 0,
      "denied": 1,
      "nongrievable": 5,
      "pending": 0
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 0,
      "personnel_action": 0,
      "no_action": 6
    }
  }
}
Response (2021)
{
  "report": {
    "title": "37th Annual Grievance Report to the Legislature",
    "source": "Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office, Friend of the Court Bureau",
    "url": "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/4961a8/siteassets/reports/focb/grievrpt2021.pdf",
    "published": "April 2022",
    "calendar_year": 2021,
    "total_offices_reporting": 43,
    "total_foc_offices": 75
  },
  "statewide": {
    "total_filed": 216,
    "response_over_30_days": 3,
    "issues": {
      "employee": 154,
      "support": 71,
      "parenting_time": 55,
      "custody": 25,
      "gender_bias": 4,
      "other": 64
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 5,
      "acknowledged_part": 22,
      "denied": 151,
      "nongrievable": 45,
      "pending": 5
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 6,
      "personnel_action": 9,
      "no_action": 201
    }
  },
  "kalamazoo": {
    "county": "Kalamazoo",
    "total_filed": 0,
    "response_over_30_days": 0,
    "multiple_grievances": {
      "duplicate": 0,
      "same_grievance_cac": 0,
      "same_party_new": 0
    },
    "issues": {
      "employee": 0,
      "support": 0,
      "parenting_time": 0,
      "custody": 0,
      "gender_bias": 0,
      "other": 0
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 0,
      "acknowledged_part": 0,
      "denied": 0,
      "nongrievable": 0,
      "pending": 0
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 0,
      "personnel_action": 0,
      "no_action": 0
    }
  }
}
Response (2020)
{
  "report": {
    "title": "36th Annual Grievance Report to the Legislature",
    "source": "Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office, Friend of the Court Bureau",
    "url": "https://www.courts.michigan.gov/496e6b/siteassets/reports/focb/grievrpt2020.pdf",
    "published": "April 2021",
    "calendar_year": 2020,
    "total_offices_reporting": 42,
    "total_foc_offices": 75
  },
  "statewide": {
    "total_filed": 266,
    "response_over_30_days": 6,
    "issues": {
      "employee": 188,
      "support": 117,
      "parenting_time": 60,
      "custody": 20,
      "gender_bias": 1,
      "other": 64
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 10,
      "acknowledged_part": 21,
      "denied": 188,
      "nongrievable": 57,
      "pending": 8
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 5,
      "personnel_action": 24,
      "no_action": 237
    }
  },
  "kalamazoo": {
    "county": "Kalamazoo",
    "total_filed": 4,
    "response_over_30_days": 0,
    "multiple_grievances": {
      "duplicate": 0,
      "same_grievance_cac": 0,
      "same_party_new": 0
    },
    "issues": {
      "employee": 4,
      "support": 0,
      "parenting_time": 0,
      "custody": 0,
      "gender_bias": 0,
      "other": 4
    },
    "responses": {
      "acknowledged_full": 0,
      "acknowledged_part": 0,
      "denied": 2,
      "nongrievable": 2,
      "pending": 0
    },
    "results": {
      "change_operations": 0,
      "personnel_action": 0,
      "no_action": 4
    }
  }
}
GET/api/friend-of-the-court/child-support-collections/{year}

Child Support Percent Paid

Child support collection rates for Kalamazoo County compared to the statewide county average. Tracked annually from 2020 to present.

Source: Michigan Courts, One Court of Justice Caseload Reporting

Available years

all
Response (all)
{
  "report": {
    "title": "Child Support Percent Paid by County",
    "source": "Michigan Courts, One Court of Justice Caseload Reporting",
    "county": "Kalamazoo",
    "circuit": "9th Circuit"
  },
  "years": {
    "2020": {
      "state_avg": 74,
      "kalamazoo": 69
    },
    "2021": {
      "state_avg": 72,
      "kalamazoo": 68
    },
    "2022": {
      "state_avg": 67,
      "kalamazoo": 64
    },
    "2023": {
      "state_avg": 68,
      "kalamazoo": 65
    },
    "2024": {
      "state_avg": 68,
      "kalamazoo": 65
    },
    "2025": {
      "state_avg": 68,
      "kalamazoo": 65
    }
  }
}

More data coming.

As we collect grievance reports, caseload statistics, county budgets, and FOIA responses, each dataset will be published as a new endpoint on this page.

9TH CIRCUIT COURTABOUT THIS PROJECT