Free Republic

The Finest Court in the Nation Hooray for Michigan justice. Among the people recently mentioned as potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees, Maura Corrigan and Robert Young were relatively unknown. But both are noteworthy representatives of what may be the finest court in the nation. For the past six years, the Michigan Supreme Court has been a leader in attempting to restore a proper balance between the judiciary, the legislature and the people. The bloc that constitutes the court's frequent majority--Justices Clifford Taylor, Stephen Markman, Corrigan, Young and, often, Elizabeth Weaver--has consistently refused to substitute its policy preferences for those of...

Origin of attack ad remains unknown 4 months after election 3/2/2005, 5:44 p.m. ET By DAVID EGGERT The Associated Press LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Four months after the November election, the identity of whoever backed nearly $400,000 worth of attack ads against a Michigan Supreme Court justice remains a mystery. A group that calls itself Citizens for Judicial Reform has yet to file a postelection report outlining its spending or disclosing its financial backers. The department of state notified the group's treasurer Feb. 10 that it hadn't submitted a report due Jan. 31, and the group has been accruing late...

Michigan Supreme Court candidates engage in rare debate 10/1/2004, 5:46 p.m. ET By DAVID EGGERT The Associated Press LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Five candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court disagreed Friday over the role public policy should play in judicial decision-making. In a rare debate format that showed some of their fundamental philosophical differences, the candidates had varying opinions on what to do if a law is vague or ambiguous. Their joint appearance came during a forum at the State Bar of Michigan's annual meeting. Justice Marilyn Kelly, nominated by Democrats, is seeking re-election for an eight-year term. She said...

Fieger says he will file complaint against four state Supreme Court justices By BREE FOWLER The Associated Press 7/28/2004, 4:52 p.m. ET SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) — Saying that four Michigan Supreme Court justices are determined to take away the people's right to sue, attorney Geoffrey Fieger announced Wednesday his intent to file a complaint with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission against the justices. The complaint comes just days after a $21 million sexual harassment verdict Fieger won against DaimlerChrysler AG was overturned by the court. During a news conference held at his law offices in Southfield, Fieger accused state Supreme...

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...

<p>Four justices who joined the Michigan Supreme Court since 1997 form a solid, conservative majority, a Free Press analysis of cases decided in 2002-03 shows.</p> <p>Chief Justice Maura Corrigan, and Justices Stephen Markman, Clifford Taylor and Robert Young Jr., all nominated by the Republican Party, formed the core of the majority opinion on almost every decision, the analysis found.</p>