Oakland County, Michigan/Courts/Probate Court/Judges/Hon. Daniel A. O'Brien

Hon. Daniel A. O'Brien

Presiding Judge of Adult and Minor Guardianships and Conservatorships; and Mental Health.

About Daniel A. O'Brien

  • Elected to the Oakland County Circuit Court on November 5, 2002.  Re-elected by voters in November 2010 and November of 2016
  • Graduate of University of Detroit School of Law (Juris Doctor Degree) and University of Detroit Business School (Bachelor of Science Degree)
  • Private practice attorney, 1998-2002
  • Assistant Municipal Attorney and Assistant City Attorney for various communities in Oakland County, 1998-2002
  • Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Oakland County, 1995-1996
  • Member: State Bar of Michigan, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Vice President (former Financial and Recording Secretary)
  • Board of Directors - Gianna House, Vice President
  • Adjunct Professor – Oakland Community College
  • Former Member, Royal Oak Zoning Board of Appeals; Circuit Court Criminal Assignment Committee; Bench Liaison to the OCBA Circuit Court Committee; Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Professionalism Advisory Committee; South Oakland County Bar Association; Catholic Lawyers
  • Formerly appointed by the Troy City Council to the Member-Advisory Committee for the Troy Daze Festival 
  • Oakland Community College’s Outstanding Alumnus 2010

​Protocol

In order to better serve the attorneys and litigants appearing in Judge Daniel A. O'Brien's courtroom, we have adopted the following guidelines.  Please advise your clients and staff so that there are no misunderstandings.  You can obtain a copy of the Protocol by clicking the highlighted link.

Motion Day Courtroom Procedures 

  • The combined length of any motion and brief, or of a response and brief, may not exceed 20 pages double spaced, exclusive of attachments and exhibits.
  • The Courtroom will open at 8:00am for checking in purposes.  We will begin calling cases as soon thereafter as possible.  Attorneys, GAL’s and PA’s - if you are appearing on more than one case, please present the Clerk with a list of your cases and we will attempt to call all of your cases together, based upon the time when you first checked-in.  Please notify the Clerks when all parties are present.  
  • All new Petitions on adult and minor Guardianships and Conservatorships, and all first Petitions in Estate and Trust cases will be scheduled for 10:00am.  All other cases will remain on the 8:30am docket. 
  • Attorneys and GAL’s should contact the Judge’s Clerk on any case they know to be contested and will require testimony.  The Clerk will then arrange for the case to be heard on a non-motion call docket.  The attorneys and any necessary parties should appear in Court on Motion Day. An adjournment Order shall be filed with the clerk.  Once the Order has been signed by the Judge and take to the Probate Counter for filing, there will be no need to go on the record and the parties will be released.
  • Make sure you hand the clerk a proposed order before your case is called.
  • A Proof of Service must be completely filled out and filed with the court or your case will not be called.