[nfbmi-talk] no justice in michigan

[Terry D. Eagle]

The simple fact that additional legislation is required to ensure the right
of a jury trial in cases shows the shallow mindedness, the rush to tamper
with pending cases, and rush to shove it down the throat of citizens, all
point to politics as usual under Snyder, and further loss of civil rights
and disregard for justice.  We are nearing the Red War forecast by  the
Prophets of centuries ago.
s

Snyder signs court shake-up bill; Ingham judge says new law is 'payback' By
Paul Egan Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau Gov. Rick Snyder said today he
has

signed Senate Bill 652, which shakes up the state court system, but said he
did so with the understanding that amending legislation will be introduced

to address at least one of the concerns raised about the bill. The bill has
immediate effect, meaning all of the roughly 100 lawsuits involving the
state

of Michigan now in the Court of Claims in Ingham County will be shifted to
Court of Appeals judges selected by the Michigan Supreme Court. The bill
also

expands the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims, meaning an unknown number
of other lawsuits against the state now in circuit courts around Michigan,
also

will be moved to the revamped Court of Claims. An Ingham County Circuit
Court judge reacted to the news by saying he is "very, very disillusioned at
the

manner in which this legislation came about, the manner in which it was
shoved down the throats of the people of Michigan and the damage it's going
to

cause the entire judicial system. "This is nothing buy payback for having
the gall to stand up to them," said Judge William Collette. Snyder told
reporters

he doesn't know how many court cases now in state circuit courts will be
moved to Court of Appeals judges as a result of the legislation that was
rushed

through the Legislature in two weeks. But he defended the speed with which
the bill was passed, even as he said he understands amending legislation is

on its way. Snyder said he doesn't know all the details of the "trailer
bill," but said he understands it will protect the right to a jury trial for
lawsuits

against the state that are now in the circuit courts. A jury trial was
already not an option in the Court of Claims. Among the criticisms of SB 652
was

that it could deprive the right to a jury trial in civil rights lawsuits and
other cases where trial by jury is normally an option. "I thought it was an

improvement over the existing practice," Snyder said of SB 652. "It's better
to have a wider range of judges" hearing cases, but "I signed it with the

understanding there would be follow-up legislation. Proponents of the bill,
sponsored by Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said it makes no sense to have

the Court of Claims in a jurisdiction - Democratic-leaning Ingham County -
elected by only 3% of state residents. Now, those cases and others will be
heard

by one of four Michigan Court of Appeals judges selected by the Michigan
Supreme Court, where Republican-nominated justices hold a 5-2 majority. Many
legal

critics said there were problems with having the court in Ingham County, but
said the cure is worse than the sickness in terms of partisan influence on

the court system. Critics also said the Court of Appeals is not
well-equipped to act as a trial court and it's problematic to have appeals
of decisions

made by Court of Appeals judges sent to other Court of Appeals judges, as
will happen under the new law. 

 

 
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