OAKLAND CO. DIST. COURT JUDGESHIPS - S.B. 201: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
sans-serif">Senate Bill 201 (as introduced 2-20-03)
Sponsor: Senator Michael D. Bishop
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act (RJA) to provide for one less judgeship in the 50th Judicial District, which consists of the City of Pontiac, and allow one additional judgeship in the 52nd Judicial District’s Third Division, which consists of the Cities of Rochester, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, and Lake Angelus, and Oxford, Addison, Orion, and Oakland Townships.
50th District
The 50th District currently has four judges. Under the bill, the district would have three judges beginning on the earliest of the following:
-- The date on which a district judgeship vacancy occurred as a result of death, resignation, retirement, removal from office, or removal of domicile beyond the limits of the district.
-- Upon the expiration of the term of an incumbent judge who was not eligible to seek reelection.
-- Upon the expiration of the term of an incumbent judge who was eligible for reelection but did not file for reelection or who withdrew within three days after filing to seek reelection.
52nd District
The Third Division of the 52nd District has three judges. Under the bill, subject to Section 8175 of the RJA, the Third Division could have one additional judge effective on January 1 of the first odd-numbered year beginning at least nine months after the date on which the 50th District was reduced from four judges to three pursuant to the bill.
(Under Section 8175, an additional district judgeship permitted by the RJA may not be authorized to be filled by election unless the governing body of each district control unit in the district adopts a resolution approving the creation of that judgeship. The clerk of each district control unit must file a copy of the resolution with the State Court Administrator by 4:00 p.m. of the 16th Tuesday preceding the August primary for the election to fill the additional judgeship.)
MCL 600.8123 - Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would minimally increase costs to the State and have an indeterminate impact on local units of government.The State would incur the salary costs of the additional district judgeship in the 52nd District’s Third Division, but also would receive the savings from the elimination of a district judgeship in the 50th District. The two changes would net no fiscal impact on the State for judicial salaries.
The State also would be responsible for a one-time cost of approximately $6,000 for recording equipment for a new district court judge.
Local costs would shift from the City of Pontiac to the local units of government in the 52nd District’s Third Division and would depend on the cost of fringe benefits for judges provided by the local units, support staff costs, and whether additional office or courtroom facilities would be necessary.
- Fiscal Analyst: Bethany WicksallS0304\s201sa
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.