Judge Wisti Weighs In On Eliminating 97th District Court Judgeship

A proposal to cut the local district court judgeship would be ill-advised, according to the current sitting judge in that courtroom.

A report by from the State Court Administrative Office says five district court judgeships are slated to be eliminated, including the court servicing Houghton, Baraga and Keweenaw Counties.

The plan would be to have other judges from circuit and probate court sit in on cases as needed.

97th District Court Judge Mark Wisti says judges are not interchangeable.

The state says their recommendations are based on workloads but that is looking at the total number of cases handled by all three courts, but state constitution prohibits the elimination of circuit and probate court judges.

A District Court Judgeship in Delta County would also be eliminated according to the report.

The state legislature would still have to approve the proposed changes.

The report said judgeships would only be eliminated through attrition when the current judge vacates the office.