With the Michigan Association of Justice
endorsement coming through, Chief Court of Appeals Judge William Murphy is
expected to be the Democratic Party’s third nominee for the Michigan Supreme
Court, although Party officials would not confirm the matter.
This would mark Judge Murphy’s second run for
the Supreme Court after coming in 4th in 1996 behind former Justice
James Brickley, former Justice Marilyn Kelly, and Oakland Circuit Court Judge
Hilda Gage.
At the age of 69, the run would also mark the
last time Judge Murphy would be eligible to run for the Supreme Court or any
other court position as the Constitution prohibits running after the age of 70.
Justice Michael Cavanagh is stepping down from the Court as he is older than 70
and ineligible to run.
Judge Murphy is joining attorney Richard
Bernstein in running for the two eight-year terms on the bench, presuming both
are nominated. Justice Brian Zahra and Kent Circuit Court Judge James Redford
are the presumptive Republican nominees for the two eight-year slots, while
Justice David Viviano will be the GOP nominee to complete the term he was named
to by Governor Snyder in 2013.
Judge Murphy has been on the Court of Appeals
since his appointment by former Governor Jim Blanchard in 1988. His current
term would end in 2019.