Michigan Legal Overview The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in Michigan, with seven justices elected for 8-year terms. The Court of Appeals has 28 judges across four divisions to hear appeals from the trial courts, although legislation has been passed to bring that number down to 24 by eliminating one vacancy in each appellate division. The Circuit Court with 57 circuits is the main trial court with general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. The 105 District Courts have limited jurisdiction over small claims, misdemeanors, landlord-tenant disputes, traffic violations and civil cases involving amounts less than $25,000.
Top metro Michigan areas for Legal Issues: Benton Harbor
1. In 1846, Michigan became the first government in the modern world to abolish the death penalty for ordinary crimes. Landmark lawsuits originating in Michigan have had just as big an impact on the laws regarding affirmative action and the 6th amendment right to counsel. In Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the affirmative action policies of the University of Michigan Law School were lawful. In Michigan v. Jackson (1986), the court ruled that once the right to counsel has been claimed by an accused, it does get waived for the remainder of the proceedings. 2. A man in Michigan, James Simpkins, is facing charges for the fatal shooting of three people during a party. 3. The man who caused on an explosion on a bus full of Isreali tourists had a fake Michigan driver's license.
Trending Michigan Legal Topics: The State Bar of Michigan (SBM) was established in 1935 as a unified bar working under the supervision of the Michigan Supreme Court. The SBM has a total of 35,200 members, including almost 33,400 lawyers licensed to practice law in Michigan. The State Board of Law Examiners nominated by the Supreme Court administers bar exams. Judicial misconduct complaints and investigations come under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Tenure Commission. |