HOUSE BILL No. 4928


     June 17, 1997, Introduced by Reps. LaForge, Gilmer and Perricone and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.


        A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled

   "Revised judicature act of 1961,"

   by amending section 8117 (MCL 600.8117).

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 1         Sec. 8117.  (1)  The  EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (3),

 2    THE eighth district consists of the county of Kalamazoo except

 3    the cities of Kalamazoo and Portage, is a district of the second

 4    class, and has 2 judges.

 5         (2)  The  EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (3), THE ninth

 6    district consists of the cities of Kalamazoo and Portage, is a

 7    district of the third class, and is divided into the following

 8    election  division  DIVISIONS:

 9         (a) The first division consists of the city of Kalamazoo and

10    has 4 judges.




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 1         (b) The second division consists of the city of Portage and

 2    has 1 judge.

 3         (3) EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1999, IF THE COUNTY OF KALAMAZOO,

 4    THE CITY OF PORTAGE, AND THE CITY OF KALAMAZOO HAVE APPROVED THE

 5    REFORMATION OF THE EIGHTH DISTRICT PURSUANT TO LAW, THE EIGHTH

 6    DISTRICT CONSISTS OF THE COUNTY OF KALAMAZOO, IS A DISTRICT OF

 7    THE FIRST CLASS, AND HAS 7 JUDGES, AND IS DIVIDED INTO 3 ELECTION

 8    DIVISIONS, AS FOLLOWS:

 9         (A) THE FIRST DIVISION CONSISTS OF THE CITY OF KALAMAZOO AND

10    HAS 4 JUDGES.

11         (B) THE SECOND DIVISION CONSISTS OF THE CITY OF PORTAGE AND

12    HAS 1 JUDGE.

13         (C) THE THIRD DIVISION CONSISTS OF THE COUNTY OF KALAMAZOO

14    EXCEPT THE CITIES OF KALAMAZOO AND PORTAGE AND HAS 2 JUDGES.

15         Enacting section 1.  If the eighth and ninth districts are

16    consolidated into the eighth district as allowed by this amenda-

17    tory act, all of the following apply as to the district judges

18    serving in the county of Kalamazoo on the effective date of this

19    amendatory act:

20         (a) The 4 judges whose terms expire on January 1, 2001 or on

21    January 1, 2003 shall become judges of the eighth district, as

22    reformed, on January 1, 1999, for the balance of the respective

23    terms for which each judge was elected, except that each judge

24    must meet other requirements for eligibility to serve as a dis-

25    trict judge, including residency requirements.

26         (b) If any of the 3 judges whose terms expire January 1,

27    1999 seeks reelection in the eighth district, as reformed, for a



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 1    term beginning January 1, 1999, and meets other requirements for

 2    eligibility to serve as district judge, including residency

 3    requirements, that judge is entitled to the designation of his or

 4    her office on the ballot in the 1998 November general election.

 5         Enacting section 2.  The reformation of the eighth district,

 6    as allowed by this 1997 amendatory act, shall not take place

 7    unless resolutions of approval by the county board of commission-

 8    ers of the county of Kalamazoo, the city council of the city of

 9    Portage, and the city commission of the city of Kalamazoo, as

10    required by section 8176 of the revised judicature act of 1961,

11    1961 PA 236, MCL 600.8176, are filed with the state court admin-

12    istrator not later than April 14, 1998.
































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