Litigation

First Attacks Fly in MI Court Race

By Peter Hardin

The attack ads have begun in Michigan, where races for two state Supreme Court seats are expected to become costly and ugly.

Justice Elizabeth Weaver, who had feuded with her fellow Republicans in the court’s majority, recently resigned. Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed Justice Alton T. Davis, bringing the first Democratic majority in 11 years (see Gavel Grab).

With new radio ads hitting the airwaves, one ad ad assails a “sleazy deal” and calls on Justice Davis to step down, according to a Detroit News article. The American Justice Partnership paid for the ad, the newspaper said. The article described AJP as “a legal reform group supporting a conservative majority on the court.”

“Can we trust a judge like Alton Davis who cuts backroom deals who benefit himself and his political party?” the advertisment asked.

Rich Robinson, director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, said he expects to see the political parties and interest groups spend at least $10 million in the two contests. “The tone of the campaigns in the past when it has been a competitive situation has been very negative,” said Robinson, whose watchdog group is a partner of Justice at Stake.
Meanwhile the Michigan Democratic Party has launched a website that criticizes Justice Robert Young, another candidate in the upcoming elections.

Lawrence Dubin of the University of Detroit Mercy Law School said financial backing for the state Supreme Court candidates follows a “political divide.”

Full post as published by The Gavel on September 17, 2010 (boomark / email).