Robert James Jonker at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- Jurisdiction
- Michigan · Federal
- Judicial service
- July 16, 2007–present
Robert James Jonker
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- Private practice, Grand Rapids, MI, 1987-2007
- Law clerk, Hon. John F. Feikens, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1985-1987
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, W.D. Michigan, 2007-present
Education
- Calvin College · B.A., 1982
- University of Michigan Law School
Personal record
Born 1960 · Holland, MI
Courtroom rules and guidance
Courtroom Technology
Judge-specific source
. Courtroom Technology The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan has installed electronic evidence presentation equipment in the courtrooms of all Article III Judges. All systems allow for the projections of evidence throughout the courtroom on monitors and/or large projections screens.Judge Robert J. Jonker | Western District of Michigan | United States District Court ↗
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392596CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1676/robert-james-jonker/Judge Robert J. Jonker | Western District of Michigan | United States District Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.miwd.uscourts.gov/content/judge-robert-j-jonkerFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts