Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on March 21, 2007

Click here to view bill details.

The fees are high enough, especially for the transcript. I don't think it's fair to raise the fees! People should be able to afford an appeal due to the fact that our constitution promises it to each citizen. I did not know that rights have a price. One must pay for a lawyer, and above all deal with their issue why make it harder?? When many unconstitutional mistakes take place in the court room why should the defendent have to pay the price?

This would be an opportune time to stop charging governmental entities (such as county prosecutors) the filing fee for appeals. County governments are strapped financially and it is ludicrous to have county prosecutors having to juggle their budgets and decide which appeal to take in very important cases because there simply is not enough money to pay the filing fee. They represent THE PEOPLE of the State of Michigan. Thus this client does not stop at the county line. More uniform justice can be had if county prosecutors are not charged court filing fees.

(Read: taxes) For the first time in my life since turning 21, I've decided not to renew my Notary Commission, in MI as well as two other states. Why? The big hike in the 'fees.' Just WHAT is being done with the $$ garnered in doing this? Keep raisin' 'em. More people, like me, will be saying 'thanks, but no thanks.'

about the high costs of appeals. the filing fees for appeals don't seem to be in the millions of dollars, as one poster put it, placing the cost of appealing, let's say, a death penalty case in the millions of dollars. it looks like they are mighty high for the average joe, though.

Maybe it the prosecutors didn't put innocent people in prison we wouldn't have to worry about the cost of appeals. How about a good hard look at dysfunctional juries that convict innocent people? How do I know? Because I have read transcripts from a trial where all the evidence was conflicting and didn't add up! I wouldn't want a jury of dysfunctional people to be able to decide my fate so I would HAVE to file for appeal! Come on!!!! SOMEONE HAVE A GOOD LOOK A T THE SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!