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One of the ways the State of Michigan is looking to save money is by eliminating certain judgeships deemed unnecessary. Houghton County was tapped as one of those areas that may be subject to elimination of a judgeship through attrition when a judge retires.
Menominee County is set to lose a judge at the end of March and Senator Ed McBroom has introduced legislation to stop that from happening.
McBroom said he was approached by judges and community leaders about the changing statistics and demographics of the 95-A District Court. “The felony crime rate has substantially increased, almost doubled, over the last several years and so the report that concluded it should be eliminated is old news at this point,” he said.
McBroom says it will be a battle to save a judgeship in Houghton County if the state moves forward with trying to eliminate one…but he is willing to work with judges in the 97th District Court if needed. “Whether it starts with me or comes to me at the end of the process, I’m more than happy to work on it with the county,” said McBroom.
McBroom’s bill to overturn the decision to eliminate the judgeship in Menominee County was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.
