Under the state constitution, the Supreme Court is responsible for determining the appropriate number of judgeships in the state court system. The Court's administrative arm, the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO), today recommended that the Legislature eliminate 45 trial court judgeships and 4 Court of Appeals judgeships at the point at which the current judges vacate the seats or do not run for reelection. The Supreme Court unanimously supports these recommendations, as do the Michigan Judges Association, the Michigan Probate Judges Association, the Michigan District Judges Association, and the Michigan Judicial Conference of the State Bar of Michigan. Governor Snyder also supports the recommendations.
The downsizing is expected to save the state approximately $8 million per year, and to be substantially accomplished within 6-8 years. The same analysis that generated the downsizing recommendations also identified 31 courts in which an additional judgeship is justified. These courts requested that SCAO not proceed with a recommendation for an additional judgeship, due to the costs of the additional judgeships. The Supreme Court has the authority to assign judges to sit in jurisdictions other than their own to balance judicial workloads throughout the state and ensure that the court system operates efficiently.
The jurisdictions in which downsizing is recommended are:
- Court of Appeals -4
- Dickinson, Iron, Menominee -2
- Alcona, Arenac, Iosco, Oscoda -2
- Alger, Luce, Mackinac, Schoolcraft -1
- Gogebic, Ontonagon -1
- Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw -1
- Marquette -2
- Midland -2
- 50th District – Pontiac -2
- Bay -2
- Ogemaw, Roscommon -1
- 52nd District - Oakland County -1
- 68th District – Flint -1
- Antrim, Grand Traverse, Leelanau -1
- Alpena, Montmorency -1
- Benzie, Manistee -1
- Clinton, Gratiot -1
- Crawford, Kalkaska, Otsego -1
- Delta -1
- Huron -1
- Lapeer -1
- Lake, Mason -1
- 33rd District – Woodhaven -1
- Cheboygan, Presque Isle -1
- Missaukee, Wexford -1
- Newaygo, Oceana -1
- 54A District – Lansing -1
- Calhoun -1
- Hillsdale -1
- Kalamazoo -1
- Chippewa -1
- Sanilac -1
- 26th District - Ecorse, River Rouge / 25th District - Lincoln Park -2
- Shiawassee -1
- Van Buren -1
- 48th District - Bloomfield Hills -1
- 44th District - Royal Oak -1
- 45A District - Berkley /45B District - Oak Park -1
- Wayne circuit -1
Download the report here.