Senate Agrees and Moves Measure to Governor’s Desk
The new boundaries for the state’s Court of Appeals districts are now complete as the Legislature finalized Senate Bill 849 this week. The measure also reduces the number of judges from 28 to 24, a move long-supported by Governor Snyder and finally agreed to by the Legislature.
The House of Representatives, which opposed the judge reduction plan in 2011, passed the legislation without debate and by unanimous vote on Tuesday. The Senate then gave the bill final approval on Wednesday 37-1, sending the measure to the Governor’s desk for anticipated signature. Senator Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton) was the only “no” vote on the legislation.
The Legislature was operating under time constraints as incumbent judges have until March 26th to file for re-election.