LANSING — State Representative Bill LaVoy (D-Monroe) expressed concern today when the State Court Administrative Office released their recommendations that include eliminating one Monroe County probate judge.
“While reduction in cost to taxpayers is a laudable goal, in this case I feel that due process and service concerns for seniors and children outweigh the benefit from cost reductions,” said LaVoy. “Justice delayed is justice denied, and I’m concerned that losing a judge in the Monroe County Probate Court could slow things down for the people it serves.”
The report states that the reduction would occur through attrition, when a judge leaves office or dies. The 2015 Judicial Resources Recommendations is a biennial review of the judicial needs in Michigan. It analyzes factors including caseloads and the amount of judicial time needed to handle each case type. Judgeships are then added or eliminated through the legislative process.