NUMBER OF JUDGESHIPS: REVISE

House Bill 5374

Sponsor:  Rep. William Van Regenmorter

Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 11-8-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5374 AS INTRODUCED 10-26-05

Every other year, the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) completes a review of the judicial needs of trial courts and makes recommendations to the legislature regarding changes in the number of judges in circuit, probate, and district courts. 

House Bill 5374 would amend the Revised Judicature Act to adopt the recommendations of the SCAO biennial report.  Specifically, the bill would add or delete the following judgeships:

Circuit Court

·                    The 6th Judicial Circuit (Oakland County) would have one additional circuit judge as of January 1, 2007 and another effective January 1, 2009.

·                    The 7th Judicial Circuit (Genesee County) would add one circuit judge as of January 1, 2007.

·                    The 16th Judicial Circuit (Macomb County) would add one circuit judge as of January 1, 2007.

·                    The 17th Judicial Circuit (Kent County) would add one circuit judge as of January 1, 2007.

·                    The 49th Judicial Circuit (Mecosta and Osceola Counties) would add one judge as of January 1, 2007.

·                    The 55th Judicial Circuit (Clare and Gladwin Counties) would add one judge as of January 1, 2007.

·                    The 41st Judicial Circuit (Dickinson, Iron, and Menominee Counties) would lose one circuit judgeship by attrition – either on the date on which a vacancy occurred or the beginning date of the term for which an incumbent circuit judge no longer sought reelection to that office, whichever came first.

Probate Court

·                    Oakland County would lose one probate judgeship as of 12 noon, January 1, 2007.

·                    Wayne County would lose one probate judgeship as of 12 noon, January 1, 2007.

 

District Court

·                    The 68th District Court (City of Flint) would lose one district judgeship by attrition – either on the date on which a vacancy occurred or the beginning date of the term for which an incumbent district judge no longer sought reelection to that office, whichever came first.

·                    The 70th District Court (Saginaw County) would lose one judgeship in the first election division (Cities of Saginaw and Zilwaukee and townships of Zilwaukee, Buena Vista, Carrollton, and Bridgeport) by attrition - either on the date on which a vacancy occurred or the beginning date of the term for which an incumbent district judge no longer sought reelection to that office, whichever came first.  The second division (the remaining portions of Saginaw County) would retain its current number of district judges (3).

MCL 600.507 et al

FISCAL IMPACT:

By authorizing an increase in the number of judges statewide, the bill could increase costs for the state and local units of government.  Changes contemplated by the bill would increase the number of circuit judgeships by four and reduce the number of district judgeships by two, thus increasing state judicial costs by approximately $320,000 annually.  State costs of each type of judgeship are as follows: 

Salary

Standardization Payment

FICA

Travel

Retirement

Total

Circuit

$94,195

$45,724

$7,609

$200

$9,794

$157,522

Probate

$94,195

$45,724

$7,619

$200

$9,794

$157,522

District

$92,548

$45,724

$7,585

$200

$9,679

$155,736

Local expenses attendant on each judgeship are dependant on costs of staffing, support services, office space, and supplies. 

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Marilyn Peterson

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.