Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on October 19, 2011, to consolidate and reduce the number of judges in Michigan courts, as recommended by the state Supreme Court and the State Court Administrative Office. This is one of a number of such bills, and affects a number of cities in Wayne and Oakland Counties

The vote was 70 in favor, 37 opposed and 2 not voting

(House Roll Call 549 at House Journal 0)

Click here to view bill details.

I voted 'no' on this bill on December 15 as the Senate had earlier that day stripped my amendment from the bill that would have eliminated one (1) addtional judge from the one removal already contemplated for Wayne County Circuit Court.  I believe that given Wayne County's $160 million budget deficit, reduction in caseload by nearly 17 percent since 2003, losing 250,000 residents since 200, and considering the sacrifices that state, county, and local governments across Michigan are working with right now, reducing Wayne County's judiciary from 61 to 59 seemed reasonable.