(a) Upon motion or after a hearing ordered by the Judge sua sponte, the Judge may certify an issue
for decision to the highest Court of the State whose law governs its disposition. An order of certification
shall be accompanied by written findings that:
(1) the issue certified is an unsettled issue of State law, and
(2) the issue certified will likely control the outcome of the federal suit, and
(3) certification of the issue will not cause undue delay or prejudice.
Such order shall also include citation to precedent, statutory or court rule authority authorizing the State
Court involved to resolve certified questions.
(b) In all such cases, the order of certification shall stay federal proceedings for a fixed time which
shall be subsequently enlarged only upon a showing that such additional time is required to obtain a State
Court decision and is not the result of dilatory actions on the part of the litigants.
(c) In cases certified to the Michigan Supreme Court, in addition to the findings required by this Rule,
the United States District Court shall approve an agreed statement of facts which shall be subsequently
transmitted to the Michigan Supreme Court by the parties as an appendix to briefs filed therein.
January 1, 1992
United States District Court
Eastern District of Michigan
