Court Opinion

ID: 9729548
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 14:41:58.524756+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:59.427577
License: Public Domain

Dethmers, J.
{dissenting). Recognizing that the United States supreme court decisions of June 15, 1964, require that the districting and apportionment of both houses of State legislatures shall be as nearly as practicable on an equal population basis, we are convinced that, subject to that limitation, the decisions did not invalidate the requirements which are not violative thereof contained in article 4,. § 6, of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 governing legislative apportionment and districting.
A role of the supreme court of the United States is to interpret, construe, and apply the provisions of the Constitution of the United States, including those of its Fourteenth Amendment. The role of the Supreme Court of Michigan is dual in that it must perform that same function, in the light of United States supreme court decisions, and, in addition, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, interpret, construe, and apply the provisions of the Constitution of the State of Michigan.
We believe that the so-called Brucker, Huhtala, LaPorte plan, submitted to this Court on June 20, 1964, dividing each of the congressional districts most recently constituted by act of the legislature *257into 2 State senatorial districts and districting and apportioning the house according to their plan, previously submitted by them to this Court on February 14, 1964, as House Plan No 9, complies most accurately, subject to United States constitutional requirements as declared by the United States supreme court on June 15, 1964, to the requirements of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and, at the same time, as the United States supreme court requires, districts and apportions as nearly as practicable on an equal population basis, considering what the practicabilities thereof are under the requirements of the Michigan Constitution of 1963. Notable among the latter requirements are those of creating districts of regularity in shape, following, to the maximum extent possible, county, city and township lines, with due regard for the integrity of the boundaries thereof. We hold accordingly.
Kelly, J., concurred with Dethmers, J.