COURT OF APPEALS REDISTRICTING

House Bill 5160

Sponsor:  Rep. Pete Lund

Committee:  Redistricting and Elections

Complete to 11-28-11

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5160 AS INTRODUCED 11-10-11

House Bill 5160 would amend the Revised Judicature Act (MCL 600.302) to reconfigure Michigan's four Court of Appeals districts, changing the assignment of 20 of Michigan's counties to new appeals court districts.  A more detailed explanation of the bill follows.

Now under the law, each of Michigan's 83 counties is assigned to one of four Court of Appeals districts.  Under the bill, 20 Michigan counties would be assigned to new Court of Appeals districts, as follows:

·                    Reassigned from district 3 to district 1:  Barry and Jackson counties

·                    Reassigned from district 2 to district 4:  Shiawassee county

·                    Reassigned from district 3 to district 4:  Washtenaw county

·                    Reassigned from district 4 to district 3:  Benzie, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Montcalm, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, and Roscommon counties

The following table lists the counties now assigned to each Court of Appeals district, and the counties that are proposed to be assigned to each district under House Bill 5160.

 

            Current COA Districts                          Proposed COA Districts

                                                            District 1

            Calhoun, Hillsdale, Lenawee,                Barry, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson

            Monroe, Wayne                                               Lenawee, Monroe, Wayne

                                                            District 2

            Genesee, Macomb, Oakland                            Genesee, Macomb, Oakland

            Shiawassee

                                                            District 3

            Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch             Allegan, Benzie, Berrien, Branch,

            Cass, Eaton, Ionia, Jackson,                             Cass, Clare, Crawford, Eaton,

            Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon                           Gladwin, Ionia, Isabella, Kalamazoo,

            Newaygo, Ottawa, St. Joseph,             Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Manistee,

            Van Buren, Washtenaw                                    Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Mont-

                                                                                    Calm, Muskegon, Newago, Oceana,

                                                                                    Ogemaw, Osceola, Ottawa, Ros-

                                                                                    common, St. Joseph, VanBuren

                                                            District 4

             Alcona, Alger, Alpena, Antrim             Alcona, Alger, Alpena, Antrim,

             Arenac, Baraga, Bay, Benzie,              Arenac, Baraga, Bay, Charlevoix,

             Charlevoix, Cheboygan,                                   Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clinton,

             Chippewa, Clare, Clinton,                                Delta, Dickinson, Emmet, Gogebic,

             Crawford, Delta, Dickinson,                            Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Houghton,

             Emmet, Gladwin, Gogebic,                              Huron, Ingham, Iosco, Iron,

             Grand Traverse, Gratiot,                                  Keweenaw, Lapeer, Leelanau,

             Houghton, Huron, Ingham,                               Livingston, Luce, Mackinac,

             Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Kalkaska,                       Marquette, Menominee, Midland,

             Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau,               Montmorency, Ontonagon, Oscoda,

             Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Otsego, Presque Isle, Saginaw,

             Marquette, Mason, Mecosta,                           Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee,

             Menominee, Midland, Missaukee,                    St. Clair, Tuscola, Washtenaw,

             Montcalm, Montmorency, Oceana,                  Wexford

              Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda,

              Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon,

              Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft,

              St. Clair, Tuscola, Wexford

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

This proposal would not have a direct fiscal impact on state or local governments. Some Court of Appeals districts may face increased or decreased caseloads as a result of this redistricting. As the State of Michigan pays all costs related to the Court of Appeals, any shifts in caseload between courts would not alter who is responsible for caseload-related costs. However, overall costs may decrease if the proposed jurisdictions distribute the Court of Appeals caseload more efficiently than current jurisdictions. The actual amount saved due to this change in efficiency is indeterminate.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Erik Jonnasson

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.