Jurist stumps for support (Michigan Supreme Court Race)

Daily Press and argus ^ | 5-17-04 | Kevin Shopshire

[Dan from Michigan]

Jurist stumps for support
By Kevin Shopshire
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Some of the first salvos in the race for the Michigan Supreme Court were fired in the county last week at the Livingston County Democratic Party's annual fund-raising dinner.

Incumbent Justice Marilyn Kelly was at the dinner, seeking support for her second eight-year term on the state's highest court.

The justices are nonpartisan positions, but the candidates are nominated by the state Democratic and Republican parties at their conventions. Incumbents do not have to go through that process; they are only required to file an affidavit of identity. Both Kelly and conservative Justice Stephen Markman are up for re-election.

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"She isn't controlled by the special interests," said Brighton attorney Theresa Brennan. "You would know that after reading any of her opinions."

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She was a courtroom attorney for 17 years in Michigan. In 1988, she was elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals for a six-year term and re-elected in 1994. She was elected to the Supreme Court in 1996.

Kelly said the high court has changed dramatically, and not for the better, in her eight years on the bench.

"Under this court, it has been very different than when I first came into office since the five (Gov. John) Engler-appointed, Republican justices took over," she said.

Republican-nominated justices hold a 5-2 edge on the court. Critics of the court say civil rights, workers' compensation issues and individual rights are being eroded under this current court.

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The 2000 campaign left a bad taste for many people, and the Democratic and Republican central committees spent millions of dollars on ads that accused the other side of everything from being easy on pedophiles to being segregationists.

Kelly said she doesn't like the money being spent on Supreme Court campaigns or the negative ads, but it will take a constitutional amendment to change those things.

"If I can help it, it will not get ugly," she said. "I think it hurts the judiciary when they engage in gutter politics."

Markman, one of her conservative colleagues on the court, was appointed by Engler in October 1999 to fill a vacancy. He was elected in 2000 to complete the term.

Republicans plan to nominate someone, at their state convention Aug. 27 at the Compuware Arena in Plymouth, to challenge for Kelly's seat. The Democrats plan to nominate someone to challenge Markham's seat at their convention.

The Libertarian Party of Michigan nominated law professor Leonard Schwartz for the Supreme Court at its recent convention.

[Dan from Michigan]

This is arguably the most important race on the ballot, possibly even including the presidency. There are two positions open. Markman's seat and Kelly's seat.

Justice Markman I've met and heard speak several times. He's a conservative and will be receiving my vote.

As for Marilyn Kelly, I will be voting for her opponent. She is a democrat. She also opposes Article I, section 6, which is our state's version of the 2nd Amendment. She's also backed by Theresa Brennan. Brennan is a local attorney who ran for judge here, spending over $120,000 on the race. She told republicans she wasn't a democrat. She also gave over $5000 to DEBBIE STABENOW. She luckily was found out, and she wasted a lot of money in that race. She lost.

The Republican nominee for Michigan's Supreme court race against Kelly will be decided at the next convention. I have no idea who it will be.