Michigan Supreme Court Decisions

Seven justices serve on the Michigan Supreme Court, which focuses on reviewing decisions in the Michigan Court of Appeals. The Court oversees all of the lower courts in the state judicial system, and it has created the Michigan Rules of Court to govern their operation. It also has jurisdiction over cases involving alleged judicial misconduct. In some unusual situations, such as bypass appeals, the Court may hold original jurisdiction.

To serve on the Michigan Supreme Court, a candidate must be younger than 70, which is the mandatory retirement age in Michigan. They also must have been licensed to practice law in Michigan for at least five years. Each justice serves an eight-year term. They are elected in non-partisan elections, which means that their party affiliation does not appear on the ballot. The justices elect one of their members to serve as the Chief Justice every two years. If a seat becomes vacant before the end of a justice’s term, the Governor of Michigan will appoint a temporary justice to fill that seat. Their tenure will last until the next general election, when they must win an election to stay on the Court.

A justice may be removed from the Michigan Supreme Court through an impeachment process. This requires a majority vote by the Michigan House of Representatives and a two-thirds vote of conviction by the Michigan Senate. In other cases, the Governor may remove a justice from the Court based on a concurrent resolution by two-thirds of the members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In contrast to many states, a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court may not be removed based on a recommendation by the Judicial Tenure Commission. Only judges in lower courts may be removed in this manner.

Browse Opinions From the Michigan Supreme Court

Recent Decisions From the Michigan Supreme Court
In Re Tracy E. Green, Judge (Opinion - Leave Granted)  
Date: July 31, 2023
Docket Number: 162260

Justia Opinion Summary: The Judicial Tenure Commission (the JTC) filed a formal complaint against Third Circuit Court Judge Tracy E. Green, alleging that she covered up evidence of child abuse (Count I) and that she made false statements about…

Michigan v. Posey (Opinion on Application - Remand to CoA)  
Date: July 31, 2023
Docket Number: 162373

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant Dametrius Posey and a codefendant were tried jointly before a jury on multiple counts of assault with intent to murder; assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder; carrying a weapon with…

Michigan v. Stewart (Opinion on Application - Remand to TC)  
Date: July 31, 2023
Docket Number: 162497

Justia Opinion Summary: Joshua L-J Stewart was convicted by jury on three counts of armed robbery; assault with intent to commit murder; receiving and concealing stolen property valued between $1,000 and $20,000; and possession of a firearm…

Vectren Infrastructure Services Corp v. Department Of Treasury (Opinion on Application - Remand to TC)  
Date: July 31, 2023
Docket Number: 163742

Justia Opinion Summary: Vectren Infrastructure Services Corporation, the successor in interest to Minnesota Limited, Inc. (ML), sued the Department of Treasury (the Department) in the Michigan Court of Claims, alleging that the Department had…

Andary v. USAA Casualty Insurance Company (Opinion - Leave Granted)  
Date: July 31, 2023
Docket Number: 164772

Justia Opinion Summary: Michael Andary, conservator and guardian of Ellen Andary; Ronald Krueger, guardian of Philip Krueger; and Moriah, Inc., doing business as Eisenhower Center, brought an action against USAA Casualty Insurance Company and…

Michigan v. King (Opinion on Application - Remand to TC)  
Date: July 28, 2023
Docket Number: 162327

Justia Opinion Summary: Frank King was charged as a fourth-offense habitual offender with breaking and entering. Before trial, defendant moved to proceed in propria persona and to terminate his relationship with his appointed counsel. The trial…

Kandil-Elsayed v. F & E Oil, Inc. (Opinion on Application - Remand to TC)  
Date: July 28, 2023
Docket Numbers: 162907, 163430

Justia Opinion Summary: Two cases consolidated for the Michigan Supreme Court's review involved premises liability, specifically slip-and-fall instances where plaintiffs both argued while the hazards were open and obvious, they were…

Cramer v. Transitional Health Services (Opinion - Leave Granted)  
Date: July 28, 2023
Docket Number: 163559

Justia Opinion Summary: Agnes Cramer petitioned for workers’ compensation benefits for the alleged physical and mental injuries she sustained after suffering an electrical shock and falling from a ladder while working for Transitional Health…

Michigan v. Yeager (Opinion on Application - Remand to TC)  
Date: July 27, 2023
Docket Number: 164055

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant Menayetta Yeager was convicted by jury of first-degree murder, and carrying a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the shooting death of her boyfriend, Jonte Brooks. In 2017, Brooks…

Woodman v. Department Of Corrections (Opinion on Application - Remand to TC)  
Date: July 26, 2023
Docket Number: 163382

Justia Opinion Summary: Two freelance journalists, Spencer Woodman and George Joseph, brought separate actions at the Michigan Court of Claims against the Michigan Department of Corrections (the MDOC), arguing that the MDOC wrongfully denied…

Sunrise Resort Association, Inc. v. Cheboygan County Road Commission (Opinion on Application - Remand to TC)  
Date: July 24, 2023
Docket Number: 163949

Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiffs brought this action after the defendant modified a storm water drainage system, allegedly causing flooding onto their property. The plaintiffs raised two distinct claims that remained at issue on appeal: a…

Pueblo v. Haas (Opinion - Leave Granted)  
Date: July 24, 2023
Docket Number: 164046

Justia Opinion Summary: Carrie Pueblo brought an action against her former domestic partner, Rachel Haas seeking joint custody and parenting time for a child whom Haas conceived through in vitro fertilization and gave birth to in 2008, during…

In re Parole of Richard Allen McBrayer (Opinion - Leave Granted)  
Date: July 24, 2023
Docket Number: 164311

Justia Opinion Summary: The Macomb County Prosecutor sought to appeal the Parole Board’s grant of parole to Richard McBrayer, a prisoner under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections. The Parole Board intervened. In 1994, McBrayer…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

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