Just as it is important to care about who serves as your Governor or state legislator, the people who are elected to the Michigan Supreme Court serve an important role within the checks and balances of state government.
Members of the Michigan Supreme Court have the ability to strike down laws and order government officials to take certain actions. They have tremendous influence on how government operates and how it impacts your life. Because many court decisions are made by a one-vote majority (a 4-3 vote), it is crucial to know that all of the justices you are electing to the Supreme Court share your beliefs and values and will act on your behalf.
The Michigan Supreme Court, which is located in the City of Lansing, plays a critical role because it is Michigan's highest court. Because judges in Michigan are chosen by election, it is not only important to understand general information about the Supreme Court and the current justices on the bench, but to also learn about the 2008 Supreme Court candidates.
2008 Michigan Supreme Court Candidates
The 2008 Michigan Supreme Court election will consist of only one key race between incumbent Justice Cliff Taylor and circuit court judge Diane Hathaway. The winner of the election will serve an eight-year term. The judicial portion of the ballot is nonpartisan. If you vote a straight party ticket, you must still vote separately for judicial candidates. The websites for the two Supreme Court candidates are listed below.
Biographies of the Justices
The Michigan Supreme Court consists of seven justices. Supreme Court justices are elected for eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot. Two justices are elected every two years (one in the eighth year) in the November election. To learn more about each of the Michigan Supreme Court justices, read their biographies at the link below.
http://courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt/AboutCourt/biography.htm
Supreme Court Overview
One of the most fundamental questions of law is whether a given court has jurisdiction to preside over a given case. Jurisdiction refers to the right and power to interpret and apply the law. The Michigan Supreme Court's authority to hear cases is discretionary. The Court hears those cases of greatest complexity and public importance, where additional briefing and oral argument are essential to reaching a just and equitable outcome.
In addition to its judicial duties, the Supreme Court is responsible for the general administrative supervision of all courts in the state. The Supreme Court also establishes rules for practice and procedure in all courts. To learn more about the types of cases heard by the Supreme Court and other interesting facts, visit the link below.
http://courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt/AboutCourt/msc_over.htm
Michigan Voter Information Center
If you would like to verify that you are registered to vote for the Michigan Supreme Court justices, as well as other elected officials, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center provided by the State of Michigan. This is an online resource tool that allows anyone to check to see if they are already registered to vote in Michigan and, if not, provides the resources to register. There is also helpful educational information about absentee voting, statewide ballot proposals, candidates, FAQs on voting and even information about how to use the voting equipment.
https://services2.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/
