The Metropolitan Tribunal is the primary judicial arm of the Archbishop and serves according to the mandates of universal and particular law.
In addition to serving as the Court of First Instance for the Archdiocese of Detroit, the Tribunal serves as the primary Court of Second Instance for the suffragan sees of the Province of Detroit (the other dioceses in Michigan) and also adjudicates First Instance cases referred to it by various Eastern Catholic Churches located within the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The Tribunal receives an average of 500 marriage nullity petitions each year. In addition to adjudicating matters concerning the validity of marriages, the Metropolitan Tribunal each year responds to several thousand phone calls and emails inquiring about Church law (Canon Law) on various matters.
