Hon. Janet M. Allen, 46th Circuit Court Chief Judge

As Chief Judge, Judge Allen is responsible for all administrative, personnel and policy matters involving the circuit court. Judge Allen also maintains a full case schedule.


Janet M. Allen was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Circuit Court bench in September 2005. She successfully stood for election in 2006 and was appointed as the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court in July 2008.


Judge Allen received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1973 and her Juris Doctor degree from the Detroit College of Law in 1979.


Judge Allen clerked for the late Honorable Blair Moody, Jr., on the Michigan Supreme Court from 1979 to 1982. Since 1982, she had a private practice in Gaylord, which encompassed domestic relations cases involving divorce, custody and paternity, as well as plaintiff personal injury and general civil litigation and and practiced in all three counties of the 46th Circuit.


Judge Allen has served on the following Michigan Supreme Court Committees – Dispute Resolution Court Rule Committee and the Trial Court Performance Committee. She is a member of several professional associations and has served on several State Bar of Michigan Committees throughout her legal career. She remains actively involved in community boards and activities and resides in Gaylord with her husband, James C. Smith, Jr.

Hon. Lynne M. Buday, Chief Probate & District Judge

Lynne M. Buday, was appointed by Governor John Engler to the Probate bench in Kalkaska County in March, 1998. She was elected to fill the vacancy in November, 1998.


Judge Buday is a 1975 graduate from Interlochen Arts Academy and a 1979 graduate from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in May, 1983, and was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in July, 1983.


She was formerly an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Grand Traverse County until her appointment to the bench. In 1996 Judge Buday received the Humanitarian Award from Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan for her personal and professional dedication to improving the lives of children and families.


Judge Buday is married to attorney, Christopher L. Buday, and is the mother of three (3) children. Judge Buday resides with her family in Kalkaska County, Michigan.

Hon. Dennis F. Murphy, Circuit Judge

Dennis F. Murphy is a Trial Court Judge serving Crawford, Kalkaska and Otsego Counties. He primarily hears cases in the Circuit Division, and he regularly assists with the dockets in the District Division, Probate Division, and Family Division in Grayling, Kalkaska and Gaylord. In addition, he is often appointed to assist judges in other counties throughout Northern Michigan. Dennis Murphy is a graduate of the Detroit College of Law.


Judge Murphy is married and has three children.