Citizens Petition for Changes in Michigan Supreme Court Selection
It's time for Michigan to develop a better way to select justices to the state Supreme Court. The current system is seriously flawed and can be improved through legislative action.
Check out the information on Michigan Courts to review the existing system and what some of our concerns are.
One major problem is that voters don't know who is behind "issue ads" that are designed to influence voters but that do not directly state support for a candidate. Michigan law doesn't require accounting for issue ads!
Because there is no campaign finance accounting of Supreme Court issue advertisements, there is no way to detect and evaluate potential conflicts of interest involving contributors to those advertising campaigns. Contributors to issue advertising campaigns should be identified in the public record.
This fall, while election matters are on the voters’ minds, the League of Women Voters of Michigan is sponsoring several non-partisan forums entitled, “A Fair and Impartial Michigan Supreme Court.” Learn more ...
October 1
Kalamazoo, Little Theater at Western Michigan University, Oakland Dr. and Oliver St., 7:00-9:00 pm.
Hosted by LWV Kalamazoo Area.
Speakers: Hon. Curtis J. Bell, Kalamazoo Co. Probate Court; Brian Dickerson, Detroit Free Press; Rich Robinson, MI Campaign Finance Network.
October 8: Holland, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, 13565 Port Sheldon St., 7:00-9:00 pm.
Hosted by Holland and Grand Haven Area chapters of LWV.
Speakers: Hon. Curtis J. Bell, Kalamazoo Co. Probate Court, and Rich Robinson, MI Campaign Finance Network.
October 29
Livonia, Vis-Ta Tech Room, Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Rd., 7:00-8:45 pm.
Hosted by LWV Oakland Area.
Speakers: Hon. Edward Thomas, Wayne County Circuit Court (retired); Brian Dickerson, Detroit Free Press; Rich Robinson, MI Campaign Finance Network.