JUDGESHIP & COURT REVISIONS S.B. 653 (S-1):
FLOOR SUMMARY
Senate Bill 653 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act (RJA) to do the following:
-- Eliminate four circuit judgeships in the Third Judicial Circuit (Wayne County), effective January 1, 2015.
-- Authorize the addition of a circuit judgeship in the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Oakland County), effective January 1, 2019.
-- Authorize the addition of two circuit judgeships in the 16th Judicial Circuit (Macomb County), effective January 1, 2019, and the addition of one more judgeship effective January 1, 2021.
-- Authorize the addition of a circuit judgeship in the 17th Judicial Circuit (Kent County), effective January 1, 2015, unless an additional district judgeship was added in the 63rd District (part of Kent County).
-- Delete a provision reducing the number of judgeships in the Seventh Judicial District (Van Buren County) from two to one upon a judicial vacancy or when an incumbent judge no longer seeks election or re-election.
-- Authorize the consolidation of the 18th and 29th Judicial Districts in Wayne County.
-- Authorize the consolidation of the 27th and 28th Judicial Districts in Wayne County.
-- Revise the potential date of a scheduled reduction of one judgeship in the 33rd Judicial District in Wayne County.
-- Revise the potential dates of scheduled reductions of two judgeships in the 44th Judicial District, one judgeship in the 48th Judicial District, and one judgeship in the 50th Judicial District, in Oakland County.
-- Eliminate an additional judgeship in the 50th District (City of Pontiac), effective upon a judicial vacancy (unless the vacancy occurred after a judge's successor was elected but before the successor took office) or the beginning date of a term for which an incumbent did not seek election or re-election.
-- Authorize the addition of a district judgeship in the 63rd Judicial District in Kent County, effective January 1, 2015, unless an additional circuit judgeship was added in the 17th Circuit.
-- Authorize the consolidation of the 67th and 68th Judicial Districts in Genesee County, and revise the potential date of a scheduled reduction of one judgeship in the 68th District.
-- Eliminate one judgeship from the second division of the 70th Judicial District (Saginaw County), and provide for the transfer of one judgeship from the first division to the second division.
-- Indicate that if a district control unit approved a consolidation, the district control unit would voluntarily accept the resulting expenses and the consolidation would not affect the State's obligation to pay costs.
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would call for six additions and six reductions to the judiciary in Michigan, resulting in no overall change in judicial resources from the State's perspective. While the State resources would remain largely the same, there would be a more significant impact on the local court systems that would either gain or lose judgeships.
The positions affected include a mix of circuit court and district court judgeships. The salaries, payroll taxes, and retirement benefits of both circuit and district judges are paid for by the State, while fringe benefits such as health care and any associated staff and overhead costs are paid for by the local court system. Each circuit court judgeship costs the State $158,364, while each district court judgeship costs the State $156,578. The associated local costs vary from circuit to circuit and district to district.
Date Completed: 10-30-13 Fiscal Analyst: Dan O'Connor
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.