The statement said the Supreme Court's Feb. 23 decision to adopt Michigan's first statewide judicial leave policy was a step toward making judges more accountable for their time. The new policy, which was based on American Bar Association recommendations, doesn't limit judges' sick time. Michigan, like most states, pays judges when they're ill. Although the bar association recommended that judges give back military pay so they don't double dip, Michigan didn't adopt the recommendation. Van Regenmorter and State Court Administrator John Ferry Jr. said they weren't sure if anything could be done about it.
Absenteeism costs everyone who pays for or uses the court, lawyers say.
An Oakland County lawyer who handles collection cases in 36th District Court said he made six trips to Langston's courtroom last year before a court employee finally told him the judge was out 10 months with a leg injury. When he found out, he had the case reassigned to another judge, who promptly ruled in his favor. Because of the incident, the lawyer now calls 36th District Court to make sure his judge will be working. Baltimore, the court's chief judge, said he wants more state guidance in dealing with absent judges, including a requirement that judges submit a physician's statement every month to document extended absences. No such plans are under way, Ferry said, noting that chief judges can impose that requirement now.