1800—Michigan's First Legal System
Michigan's first American legal system was composed of appointed justic
“Our defense is not in armaments, nor in science, nor in going underground. Our defense is in law and order."
—Albert Einstein
es of the peace who played numerous roles on various courts such as “The Court of Common Pleas” and “The Court of General Quarter Sessions.” In this early period—around 1800—it was very difficult to find qualified men to serve as justices. Language was also a problem as most of the loyal inhabitants of the Michigan region spoke French instead of English.
1835–1860—Early Leadership
From 1835 to 1860, most of Michigan's political and judicial leaders came from New England and New York. This early leadership was characterized at the time as bringing “hardheaded individualism... progress and prosperity…thrift and religion…and a commitment to bringing their superior culture to the wilderness of Michigan.”
- In 1857 the Michigan Legislature created a permanent State Supreme Court. The early years of the Michigan Supreme Court were marked by the exceptional quality of the justices who have become known as the "Big Four" of Michigan judicial history. The four men, who served together between 1868 and 1875, were nationally recognized scholars and noted for their clarity and fair-mindedness.
James V. Campbell was a Marshall Professor of Law at the University of Michigan and was noted as a great teacher and writer.
Benjamin F. Graves was noted as a tireless worker and a wonderful teacher of young lawyers, particularly with regard to uses of logic and authoritative sources.
Thomas M. Cooley was appointed to the bench while serving as the first Dean of the University of Michigan's Law School.
Isaac P. Christiancy was instrumental in formation of the Republican Party in Michigan and was an outspoken critic of slavery. He left the Court in 1875 to become a Senator in the U.S. Congress.
1908—The Justices
The constitution of 1908 provided for a Supreme Court of eight Justices. All judges in Michigan run on a non-partisan ballot. They are not identified as Democrats, Republicans, or members of any other political party. However, Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court are nominated at a party's convention. This hybrid system for nominating Supreme Court Justices is widely criticized as an unwise compromise that has failed to work well. The system's few defenders observe that it provides vigor to the electoral system, since the parties regularly nominate opponents to run against incumbent Justices (incumbent judges of other Michigan courts often run unopposed).
1963—The Courts
Too often the Court found itself divided 4–4. The framers of the 1963 constitution therefore reduced the number of Justices to seven. The eight Justices of the pre-1963 constitution retained their offices until 1968, when Justice Theodore Souris let his term expire. The 1963 constitution created the Michigan Court of Appeals, an intermediate appellate court. Originally a court with nine judges elected from three electoral districts, the court today has 28 judges elected from four electoral districts. The Court of Appeals hears cases in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Marquette. The 1963 constitution also provided that a person must be a lawyer to be a judge. Several probate judges were not lawyers at that time, and those judges were permitted to remain in office until retirement. With its requirement that judges all be lawyers, the 1963 constitution also marked the end of the Justice of the Peace Court, which heard minor matters in many Michigan communities.
1968
In 1968, the Legislature created the District Court to hear misdemeanor criminal cases and some civil matters. A short time later, the Legislature added the Small Claims Division of the District Court, to hear minor matters that could be processed without lawyers, formal rules of evidence, or a later appeal. Through the years, municipal courts have served many Michigan communities. The busiest was the Recorder's Court of the City of Detroit, which the Legislature merged into the Wayne County Circuit Court in late 1997. Municipal courts remain in several communities in northeastern Wayne County .
1996
In 1996, the Legislature created the Family Division of the Circuit Court, which began January 1, 1998. This Division brings together the family-related matters that previously were split between the Circuit Court and the Probate Court.
Administrative Tribunals
In addition to the courts of Michigan, there are administrative tribunals within the Executive Branch of Government. These tribunals decide matters requiring particular expertise. Though these tribunals are not courts, their decisions can be appealed to the appellate courts. The Tax Tribunal, the Worker's Compensation Appellate Commission, and the State (Teacher) Tenure Commission are principal examples of such tribunals. There are others, including the Parole Board, which determines whether prisoners can be released into the community.