Here it is, here it is, just off the website of the Grand Rapids Press: Guest Commentary: How to reform Supreme Court elections in Michigan. The author is Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth A. Weaver (retired) and it should come as no surprise; if you’ve followed this site, you’ve read bits and pieces of this in earlier iterations. Here the concept is fully matured. At the heart of it is maintaining elections by the citizenry but shedding partisan nominations. Justice Weaver is also correct that all the reform in the world will not do much as long as this Court maintains its secretive ways.
Justice Weaver was writing in response to the Press’ editorial of Dec. 21, 2010. You can read that here: Why we need to reform judicial elections in Michigan. It seems like the Press is endorsing the appointment process, something that’s been favored by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the honorary co-chair of the Task Force.
Thanks, but no thanks. I’d like to keep my vote.
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Governor Rick Snyder has indeed proposed Justice Maura Corrigan to head the Department of Human Services, effective Jan. 14. The vacancy he creates at the High Court will reveal much about him and his intentions. He has promised to name Justice Corrigan’s successor before she leaves. If he appoints another John Engler protege it will send a troubling signal. If he selects an independent who is not beholden to partisan interests it’s just possible that we might have a better Court. Of course this is mightily important.