Source: https://michiganlawyerblog.wordpress.com/tag/jennifer-granholm/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 08:13:47+00:00

Document:
Attorney General Bill Schuette had challenged Clarke’s appointment because it was made during the “lame duck” period after Governor Rick Snyder was elected and Granholm left office.
(1) A judicial vacancy “shall be filled by appointment by the governor.” Const 1963, art 6, § 23.
(2) The resignation of Judge KRAUSE created a vacancy on the 54-A District Court. Id. (“A vacancy shall occur . . . in the district court by . . . resignation . . . .”).
(3) “The person appointed by the governor shall hold office until 12 noon of the first day of January next succeeding the first general election held after the vacancy occurs . . . .” Id.
(4) Michigan law defines “general election” as “the election held on the November regular election date in an even numbered year,” MCL 168.2(h), and sets the November regular election date as “the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November,” MCL 168.641(1)(d). Accordingly, in this case, the “first general election held after the vacancy occurs” falls on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
(5) Therefore, defendant “shall hold office until 12 noon” on January 1, 2013. Const 1963, art 6, § 23.
(6) The argument of plaintiff that an absurd result could conceivably arise under this Court’s interpretation of Const 1963, art 6, § 23 in circumstances not presented in this case raises an abstract issue that is not properly before this Court.
I concur in the majority result dismissing the complaint for quo warranto, but only because I believe that there is no conflict between the statutes authorizing “holdovers” for district court judges and the Michigan Constitution. Specifically, MCL 168.467m(1) provides that “[i]f a vacancy occurs in the office of district judge, the governor shall appoint a successor to fill the vacancy” who “shall hold office until 12 noon of January 1 following the next general November election at which a successor is elected and qualified.” Additionally, MCL 168.467i provides that the term of office for a district judge “shall be 6 years” and “shall continue until a successor is elected and qualified.” These statutes clearly authorize holdovers for district judges and do not conflict with Const 1963, art 6, § 23. Therefore, defendant is entitled to hold office until noon on January 1, 2013.
Longtime Wayne County Probate Judge David Szymanski put in for retirement in early November, planning to leave his $140,000-a-year judgeship on Dec. 21.
On Dec. 20, Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed deputy Wayne County Treasurer Terrance Keith to fill Szymanski’s spot on the probate bench, leaving Keith’s $145,000-a-year deputy clerk position open.
Who did Wayne County Treasurer Raymond Wojtowicz appoint?
He didn’t have to look far. He hired Szymanski.
The former judge said his judicial pension should pay him between $55,000 and $60,000 a year on top of his new salary and help him put his children through college.
“There was no quid pro quo,” Szymanski said.
Keith, who had worked for the county for about nine years, didn’t return phone calls this week seeking comment on the job switch.
The Lansing State Journal reports that Hugh Clarke Jr. has been appointed judge of the 54A District Court.
Clarke has unsuccessfully campaigned four times for a seat on the bench: twice for Ingham County Circuit Court and twice for district court seats.
He’s a Cooley Law School grad and has an undergraduate degree from Wayne State University.
Among Clarke’s notable cases: a $2 million settlement for Claude McCollum, who was wrongful convicted of murder and served several years in prison before being freed.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has appointed 54-A District Court Judge Amy Krause to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Krause fills the open seat created when COA Judge Alton T. Davis was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court following former MSC Justice Elizabeth Weaver’s resignation.
Krause’s appointment ends speculation that Granholm might reappoint Davis to the COA. Davis lost his re-election bid to the MSC earlier this month.
Krause is an adjunct faculty member at Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a former assistant attorney general. She is a recipient of the State Bar of Michigan Champion of Justice Award and is chairperson of the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention & Treatment Board.
She’s a Notre Dame law grad with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.
Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed three new judges to replace vacancies in southeastern Michigan.
In the Third Circuit Court (Wayne County), Lawrence Talon was appointed to replace Bill Callahan, who had resigned. Talon’s term will expire on January 1, 2013. He was an assistant prosecutor in Wayne County.
In the Sixth Circuit Court (Oakland County), Phyllis McMillen was appointed to replace Hon. Mark Goldsmith, who was appointed to the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan earlier this summer. McMillen was a judge with the 53rd District Court and an adjunct professor at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She is also vice president of the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals.
Charles Goedart was appointed to replace Robert Turner as a district court judge in the 43rd District (Ferndale, Hazel Park and Madison Heights). Goedart was with Dickinson Wright PLLC.
As some of us in the news business know, each publication has its own rules in terms of the style used. It can vary from whether a township designation is used on first reference only, to whether a car company’s “corporation” or “company” status is used at all.
In his 10-minute victory speech Tuesday, Snyder referred to “Michiganders” coming together or working together or winning together four times.
In fact, he uses Michigander in almost every stump speech, in answers to questions, on his Web site.
But many fellow citizens think they’re Michiganians.
Those include Gov. Jennifer Granholm and at least her two immediate predecessors: John Engler and Jim Blanchard.
Virg Bernero, the Democrat running for governor, hasn’t used either term noticeably.
“Michigander” was the one-word response from his spokesman.
So, kumbaya, brothers and sisters: Whoever wins, we’ll soon all be Michiganders.

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