Amy Kerr Hardin/Democracy Tree
The Michigan Senate has fast-tracked a bill introduced just days ago by Sen. Rick Jones (R-24) that could insulate the state government from culpability over misdeeds under Gov. Snyder.SB-652 passed in the Senate today under “immediate passage”and “immediate effect”. The bill moves on to the House for approval.
What this bill does is strip Ingham County Circuit Court of its position as court of authority in all claims above $1000 against the state of Michigan, including Gov. Snyder. The proposed law would instead have the Michigan Supreme Court appoint four judges from the Court of Appeals to hear these cases.
Ingham County leans Democratic, and so does its judiciary. Gongwer News Service explains the political ramifications thus:
The Court of Appeals has several judges from both the Democratic and Republican spheres, but the Supreme Court, which would make the appointments, has a 5-2 majority of justices nominated by the Republican Party. Maybe the Supreme Court would decide to appoint, say, two appeals judges named to the bench by a Democratic governor and two by a Republican governor, but that would be a surprise.
One must only wonder — what’s the rush? Is there something they’re not telling us?
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