×

State legislation would save judgeship in Menominee County

LANSING –Legislation recently introduced in the state Senate and House of Representatives would save the 95-A District Court judgeship in Menominee County from elimination.

Senate Bill 87 and House Bill 4161 would reverse the 2012 action to eliminate the position, effective this March 31. The 2012 law eliminating the position was based on a State Court Administrator’s Office Judicial Resources Recommendation calling for the removal based on data and statistical analysis from 2008-2010.

State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, who sponsored SB 87, said statistics now show the situation has changed, validating concerns he expressed in 2011 with eliminating this position.

“The past eight years have seen felony filings in the Menominee District Court significantly increase,” McBroom said. “Retention of this seat is critical to deliver justice, especially in a more proactive way, such as through drug and veterans court programming.”

“The Upper Peninsula already has its geographical barriers for the many services hardworking taxpayers rely on,” said State Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain, who sponsored HB 4161. “We simply cannot continue having a drastic imbalance of judgeships in the U.P. as current statistics show.”

McBroom said there is strong support for the bills from local officials in Menominee and Dickinson counties, who have each passed resolutions in support of the judgeship and have pledged to provide necessary overhead and clerical support if the position is retained.

The 41st Circuit Court Judge, Christopher Ninomiya, also is a leading proponent of the legislation.

The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee was to have a hearing on SB 87 this morning and McBroom had invited residents to testify before the committee via video conference.

HB 4161 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today