NEW OAKLAND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES - S.B. 76 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 76 (Substitute S-2 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Bill Bullard, Jr.
Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act (RJA) to authorize two additional circuit court judgeships in Oakland County. The Sixth Judicial Circuit, which consists of Oakland County, currently has 17 judges. Under the bill, subject to Section 550 of the RJA, the Sixth Circuit could have two more judges effective January 1, 2003. If two new judgeships were added by election in 2002, as authorized by the bill, the candidates receiving the highest and second-highest number of votes in the November 2002 general election would be elected for terms of eight years each.
(Section 550 provides that an additional circuit judgeship permitted by the RJA may not be authorized to be filled by election unless each county in the circuit approves the creation of that judgeship by a resolution adopted by the county board of commissioners. The county clerk must file a copy of the resolution with the State Court Administrator by 4:00 p.m. of the 16th Tuesday preceding the August primary for the election to fill the additional judgeship.)
The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bills 764, 765, 766, 786, and 825 and House Bill 5357, all of which would adjust the number of judgeships in various courts throughout the State.
MCL 600.507 - Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
Based on the 2002 salary of a circuit judge, the State would incur the following annual costs for each new circuit judgeship:
| Salary | $139,919 |
| Social Security/Medicare | 7,293 |
| Defined Contribution Retirement | 9,794 |
| Total | $157,006 |
Local costs would depend on the cost of fringe benefits for judges provided by the county, support staff costs, and whether additional office courtroom facilities would be necessary.
According to the State Court Administrative Office, each circuit judge in Oakland County is provided with a secretary, a staff attorney, and two clerks. The Judicial Resource Recommendation also states that current court facilities are sufficient for two additional judges.
Date Completed: 11-29-01 - Fiscal Analyst: B. BowermanFloor\sb76 - Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.state.mi.us/sfa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.