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    49th Circuit Court, Michigan

    From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 3 min

    Circuit Court[edit]

    Ballotpedia:Trial Courts
    49th Circuit Court, Michigan

    The 49th Circuit Court is a circuit court in Michigan that presides over Mecosta and Osceola counties.[1]

    Judges[edit]

    Former judges[edit]

    See also[edit]

    External links[edit]


    Michigan courts

    Federal courts:

    Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan

    State courts:

    Michigan Supreme Court • Michigan Court of Appeals • Michigan Circuit Court • Michigan District Courts • Michigan Probate Courts

    State resources:

    Courts in Michigan • Michigan judicial elections • Judicial selection in Michigan

    Elections[edit]

    See also: Michigan judicial elections

    Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here.

    Selection method[edit]

    See also: Nonpartisan election of judges

    The 221 judges of the Michigan Circuit Courts are selected in an identical manner, each serving six-year terms. They are chosen in nonpartisan elections and must face re-election if they wish to continue serving. Candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions.[3] Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term.[4]

    Selection of the chief judge

    The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the state supreme court to two-year terms.[3]

    Qualifications
    To be elected to either of these courts, a judge must:[3]

    • be a qualified elector of his or her district;
    • be licensed to practice law in the state;
    • have at least five years of law practice experience; and
    • be under the age of 70.

    Election rules[edit]

    Primary election[edit]

    If there are more than twice the number of candidates than there are judgeships up for election, the race will appear on the primary election ballot. In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election.

    General election[edit]

    If there are not more than twice the amount of candidates than there are persons to be elected, the race will not appear on the primary election ballot, but only on the general election ballot.[5]

    Ties[edit]

    If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. In a process run by a county clerk, the candidates choose slips of paper from a box that say either "elected" or "not elected".[6]


    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ Michigan Courts, "Trial Court Directory," accessed July 7, 2014
    2. ↑ Michigan Courts, "Mecosta County," accessed July 8, 2014
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Michigan," archived October 2, 2014
    4. ↑ Michigan Daily, "Washtenaw County judge announces early retirement," May 1, 2014
    5. ↑ Michigan Legislature, "Michigan Election Law, Section 168.540," accessed July 9, 2014
    6. ↑ Michigan Legislature, "Michigan Election Law, Section 168.851," accessed August 27, 2014
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