HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2017.10.11 - 23148MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #17290 October 11, 2017
BY: Commissioner Bill Dwyer, Chairperson, Public Services Committee
IN RE: CIRCUIT COURT — APPROVE CREATION OF ONE (1) ADDITIONAL CIRCUIT COURT
JUDGESHIP EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1,2019
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the Circuit Court is requesting a new judgeship to assist in addressing workload requirements
in the Family Division of the Circuit Court; and
WHEREAS the Michigan Legislature has authorized the addition of one (1) circuit court judgeship for the
Sixth Judicial Circuit Court effective January 1, 2019, pursuant to MCL 600.507(3); and
WHEREAS the State Court Administrative Office has created a quantitative method — known as the
weighted caseload formula — to estimate the number of judges needed in each of Michigan's trial courts;
and
WHEREAS application of the State Court Administrative Office's weighted caseload formula yields an
estimated judicial need in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court's Family Division of 7.07 judges; and
WHEREAS six of the Circuit Court's judgeships are assigned to the Family Division, resulting in an
estimated judicial shortfall of 1.07 judges in the Family Division; and
WHEREAS the estimated judicial shortfall in the Family Division does not take into account several recent
statutory changes and Michigan Supreme Court rulings that require new judicial findings and court
hearings, all of which have created additional judicial workload; and
WHEREAS in addition to approval by the Legislature, the creation of a new judgeship requires approval
by resolution adopted by the county board of commissioners pursuant to MCL 600.550(1); and
WHEREAS the annual salary for judges is paid by the State of Michigan as Oakland County is
reimbursed by the State for the local supplement salary paid by the County; and
WHEREAS the Circuit Court has committed to make structural budget reductions equal to the annual cost
of support personnel and operating expenses for the new judgeship; and
WHEREAS requests for support personnel and operating expenses for the new judgeship will be included
as part of the FY 2019-2021 Triennial budget process.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approves the
creation of one (1) new judgeship in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court to be filled by election in 2018 for a
judicial term of office beginning on January 1,2019.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners agrees to provide and
maintain facilities, personnel and operating costs to support the new judgeship in accordance with the
statutes of the State of Michigan and the Michigan Constitution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Circuit Court will make structural budget reductions in an amount
equal to the cost of the support personnel for the new judgeship as part of the FY 2019 budget process.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution shall be filed with the State Court
Administrator pursuant to MCL 600,550.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Public Services Committee, I move the adoption/Of ti3e foregoing resolution.
Commissioner Birklawytr, District #14
Chairperson, Public Services Committee
PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with McGillivray voting no and Berman and Jackson absent.
Resolution #17290 October 11, 2017
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Human Resources Committee and the Finance
Committee, There were no objections.