Advocacy News – June 15, 2021
Legislation that would move the Court of Claims out of the Court of Appeals and back to Circuit Courts moved out of House Judiciary Committee today.
HB 4222 and HB 4223 would provide that the Court of Claims consists of four judges of the Circuit Court (instead of appeals court judges) as assigned by the Michigan Supreme Court. The Supreme Court would have to appoint Circuit Court judges as follows:
- One judge of the Circuit Court in each of the four court of appeals districts is assigned to sit as a judge of the Court of Claims.
- At least one judge of the Circuit Court from a county with a population of less than 60,000 is assigned to sit as a judge of the Court of Claims.
- Not more than two of the judges of the Circuit Court assigned to sit as judges of the Court of Claims are from counties that have populations of more than 500,000.
Michigan Chamber members have expressed disappointment with the current Court of Claims process, especially with tax cases. The Chamber is still reviewing the proposed changes and seeking member feedback.
For more information on this proposal or to express any feedback, please contact Dan Papineau at dpapineau@michamber.com