© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

GOP lawmakers want court of claims out of Ingham circuit

Joe Gratz
/
Flickr

Lawsuits filed against the state would go to a new division of the Michigan Court of Appeals under a bill approved today by the state Senate.

Right now, the Michigan Court of Claims is part of the Ingham County Circuit Court. That’s where Lansing and the state capital are located.

“It makes absolutely no sense,” said state Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge). “You’re only going to draw from 3 percent of the population. What would they have said if I said, I’m going to put them all into Eaton County or all into Clinton County? That also would make no sense.”

Ingham County also happens to lean Democratic and the judges here have ruled against Governor Rick Snyder and Republicans in lawsuits challenging the emergency manager law and other big cases. Many of those decisions were overturned by the Court of Appeals.

Democrats say Republicans are playing politics with the court.

          

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987.