Latest news with #MichiganCourtofAppeals
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State panel calls for 25% pay hike for governor, lawmakers, other elected officials
LANSING — A state commission on April 30 called for 25% pay increases for Michigan lawmakers and top elected officials, but the plan appeared to be dead on arrival at the Capitol. Under the Michigan Constitution, pay hikes approved by the State Officers Compensation Commission don't get approved unless there is an affirmative vote by both chambers of the Legislature. There hasn't been the political will to approve any pay increase since that law took effect, after a 2002 referendum. Michigan's governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and members of the Legislature, have not had a pay hike since 2002 and have all had one pay cut since then. Michigan Supreme Court justices received a 2023 pay increase to $181,643, up from $164,610. But they still make less money than the judges of the Michigan Court of Appeals, who sit under them and who receive automatic pay increases that match those that state government employees receive. Michigan Court of Appeals judges are paid $195,625. "We think it's just and fair," commission chairman Tom Cochran, a former state lawmaker and former Lansing fire chief, said of the unanimous recommendation for across-the-board pay hikes by the seven-member panel, whose members are appointed by the governor. The commission arrived at its recommendation after considering inflation, the years that have elapsed since the last pay increase, and the amounts that elected officials in comparable states are paid. "We need to pay people … a fair wage," or it will be too difficult to get good candidates to run for office, Cochran said. Under the law, the Legislature could take the 25% recommendation and either approve it or reduce it proportionally across the board, giving everybody instead a 5% pay increase, for example. But the Legislature couldn't pick and choose among the proposed pay hikes and give, for example, a 25% pay hike to the justices and no increase to everybody else. Also, any increases the Legislature approved would not take effect until after the next election. House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said April 30 he's opposed to the recommendation. "We're not going to raise our pay, we're not going to entertain that at all," Hall said at a news conference. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is paid $159,300, plus a $54,000 tax-free expense allowance. The salary ranks 19th nationally and is less than the Michigan governor made in 2010, which was $177,000, plus a $60,000 expense allowance. Michigan's governor is paid less than the governors of California, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania, but more than the governors of Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, according to a staff report considered by the commission. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is paid $111,510, plus an $18,000 tax-free expense allowance. The salary ranks 21st nationally and is less than Michigan's lieutenant governor made in 2010, which was $123,900, plus a $20,000 expense allowance. Attorney General Dana Nessel is paid $112,410, with no expense allowance. The salary ranks 39th nationally and is $12,000 less than Michigan's attorney general was paid in 2010. The average salary for a county prosecutor in Michigan is just under $140,000, according to a letter two of Nessel's deputies sent the commission, arguing for an attorney general pay hike. Nessel, who can't run for attorney general again because of term limits, spoke out in favor of a pay hike for the attorney general in a 2023 interview with the Free Press, saying "the hardest-working Supreme Court justice doesn't work as hard as the single attorney general." In addition to a 25% pay hike, the commission recommended an $18,000 expense allowance for the attorney general. Secretary of State Jocelyn Bension is paid $112,410, with no expense allowance. The salary ranks 23rd nationally and is $12,000 less than Michigan's secretary of state was paid in 2010. In addition to a 25% pay hike, the commission recommended an $18,000 expense allowance for the secretary of state. Members of the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives are paid $71,685, plus a $10,800 tax-free expense allowance. The salary ranks fourth nationally, as many legislatures are considered part-time, and is less than Michigan lawmakers were paid in 2010, which was $79,650, plus a $12,000 expense allowance. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: State panel calls for 25% pay hike for governor, lawmakers, officials
New York Times
28-04-2025
- New York Times
Murder Trial Opens for Michigan Officer in Traffic Stop Shooting
A jury in Grand Rapids, Mich., began hearing testimony on Monday in the murder trial of a white former police officer who fatally shot a Black man as the two scuffled on the ground after a traffic stop in 2022. There is no dispute about the basic sequence of events that began as the officer, Christopher Schurr, pulled over a Nissan Altima for an improper license plate in a residential area on a cold, rainy morning. After the driver, Patrick Lyoya, got out of the vehicle, he and Mr. Schurr got into a physical confrontation and tussled on the ground over control of the officer's stun gun. In a video filmed by a bystander, Mr. Schurr could be seen struggling to pin down Mr. Lyoya before the officer reached for his firearm and shot him at close range. Jurors must decide whether Mr. Schurr's use of deadly force amounts to second-degree murder. In opening statements on Monday, Chris Becker, the Kent County prosecutor, told jurors that the shooting 'was not justified' because the Taser that the two men were grappling over did not pose a dire threat to the officer. While Mr. Lyoya resisted being arrested, Mr. Becker said there was no evidence that he intended to seriously harm Mr. Schurr. But Mikayla S. Hamilton, one of Mr. Schurr's lawyers, said he opened fire after losing control of the Taser, which made him fear that he was 'in a fight for his life.' She added: 'This was not murder, this was survival, this was self-defense.' Mr. Lyoya's fatal shooting on April 4, 2022, took place amid national debate over police misconduct and racism set off by the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Mr. Lyoya's death led to protests in Grand Rapids, a city of about 200,000 where nearly 18 percent of residents are Black and where the case strained longstanding tensions over race and the police. The Grand Rapids Police Department fired Mr. Schurr, 34, soon after he was charged. He had been on the force for seven years. The trial was postponed as the defense team sought to have the case dismissed. The Michigan Court of Appeals and the State Supreme Court decided that the case should be presented to a jury. Winning convictions against police officers who have used lethal force on duty is often challenging. Generally, officers are authorized to use lethal force only if they reasonably believe that a person poses a grave danger to the officer or others. In this case, a key decision for the defense will be whether to let Mr. Schurr testify, said Barbara L. McQuade, a former federal prosecutor who teaches criminal law at the University of Michigan. 'The only person who knows what was on his mind is him,' she said. Mr. Lyoya's family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the city and Mr. Schurr, asserting that the officer chose to make the traffic stop because of racial profiling. The family is seeking $100 million in damages. Mr. Schurr's lawyers have described the stop as routine and justified. The officer, they said, pulled Mr. Lyoya's car over after noticing that the license plate was registered to a different car. A police body camera video shows Mr. Lyoya looking bewildered, and asking why he has been stopped. As Mr. Schurr seeks to put him in handcuffs, Mr. Lyoya tries to flee, and then the two scuffle. Videos of the scuffle show the men vying for control of the Taser, which discharged twice without striking anyone. Toward the end of the fight, Mr. Lyoya gained control of the Taser, the videos show. In a clip recorded by a bystander, Mr. Schurr, sounding winded, can be heard screaming, 'Drop the Taser!' Seconds later, the officer reaches for his gun and fires a single shot. An autopsy report showed that Mr. Lyoya had a blood alcohol level that was three times the legal limit for driving. The authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Lyoya over a domestic violence charge several days before his death. Mr. Lyoya and his family moved to the United States in 2014 after living in a refugee camp in Malawi for nearly a decade. His parents have said that they fled the Democratic Republic of Congo after their home was attacked during a war between government forces and rebels. Mr. Lyoya's father, Peter Lyoya, said in an email that the family had grown frustrated as the trial date was repeatedly pushed back. 'I want my son's death to have not been in vain,' he said. 'If Schurr is convicted, then Patrick's death will serve as a symbol for justice and hope for others.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Whitmer appoints Noah Hood to Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court | Susan J. Demas Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced four judicial appointments Wednesday, including that of Judge Noah Hood to the Michigan Supreme Court. 'A proud Detroiter, graduate of Harvard Law, and active member of the legal community with both trial and appellate court experience, he will bring important perspectives to the highest court in our state. I want to thank him for his many years of public service and look forward to many more on the Supreme Court,' Whitmer said in a press release. Hood, who currently serves on the Michigan Court of Appeals, First District, will take the seat left vacant after the resignation of former Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement. Clement is now president of the Virginia-based National Center for State Courts, a nonprofit that provides assistance and resources to courts both nationally and around the world. She was replaced as chief justice by Megan Cavanagh. Whitmer first appointed Hood to the bench in 2019 at the Third Circuit Court and then again to the Court of Appeals in 2022. Hood also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan. 'I have had the distinct honor of serving the people of the state of Michigan for the past six years,' said Hood in a statement released by Whitmer's office. 'I am deeply grateful to our Governor for her decision to appoint me to serve on our Supreme Court. I am also grateful for what it represents. For as long as I serve, the people will always be able to count on me for even-handed justice.' Although state Supreme Court candidates appear on the nonpartisan section of the ballot, state parties nominate candidates to run for the position. Clement was appointed by former Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, in November 2017 and ran for a full eight-year term after being nominated by Republicans in 2018. Her departure, and Hood's appointment by Whitmer, a Democrat, shifts the court from a 5-2 Democratic-nominated majority to a 6-1 majority, with Justice Brian Zahra as the lone Republican-nominated jurist on the court. His term runs through 2030, at which point he will be 70 and ineligible to run again. Whitmer also announced the appointment of Judge Mariam Bazzi to succeed Hood on the Michigan Court of Appeals, First District; Christopher Trebilcock to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Second District; and Daniel Korobkin to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Third District. 'These Michiganders all bring years of legal experience to their roles, and I am confident they will uphold the rule of law and serve the people admirably,' Whitmer said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New appointments made in Michigan Supreme Court, Court of Appeals
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed new judges to the Michigan Supreme Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals. The new appointments included Judge Noah Hood to the Michigan Supreme Court; Judge Mariam Bazzi to the Michigan Court of Appeals, First District; Christopher Trebilcock to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Second District; and Daniel Korobkin to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Third District. 'These Michiganders all bring years of legal experience to their roles, and I am confident they will uphold the rule of law and serve the people admirably,' said Gov. Whitmer in a news release sent to 6 News. Judge Noah Hood currently serves in the Michigan First District Court of Appeals. He was first appointed to the Third Circuit Court by Governor Whitmer in 2019 and again to the Court of Appeals in 2022. The Office of the Governor says Hood served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan and the Northern District of Ohio before his appointments to the bench. Hood is a member of the Michigan Court of Appeals Rules Committee, Education Committee, and AI Working Group. He earned his law degree from Harvard Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Yale. 'I am deeply grateful to our Governor for her decision to appoint me to serve on our Supreme Court. I am also grateful for what it represents. For as long as I serve, the people will always be able to count on me for even-handed justice,' said Hood in a news release sent to 6 News. His appointment will fill a partial term following the resignation of Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement. Judge Mariam Bazzi currently serves on the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County. She has been re-elected twice since being appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2017. The Office of the Governor says Bazzi serves on the board of Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities. She is also a member of multiple state and national legal associations, including the Detroit Bar Association, the Michigan Judges Association, the National Association of Women Judges, the National Arab American Bar Association, and the National Association of Muslim Lawyers. Bazzi previously served as a member of the Michigan Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs and as the President of the Dearborn Board of Education. Judge Mariam Bazzi earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School and holds a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Michigan, Dearborn. 'I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Governor and her dedicated selection team for their time, effort, and commitment throughout this process. It is a profound privilege to serve the people of this great state, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the fair and impartial administration of justice. I also extend my warmest congratulations to our new Supreme Court Justice and to my fellow appointees to the Court of Appeals,' said Bazzi in a news release sent to 6 News. Bazzi will fill a partial term after Judge Noah Hood was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court. Judge Christopher Trebilcock is a senior principal at Clark Hill, PLC, working in employment litigation, administrative litigation, traditional labor law, and election law. Before joining Clark Hill in 2018, Trebilcock practiced law at Miller Canfield for over 10 years. The Office of the Governor says Judge Trebilcock is a member of the American Bar Association's Developing Labor Law Committee and the Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee. Trebilcock is the first Court of Appeals appointee born and raised in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He earned his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and business administration from Alma College. 'I am humbled by this opportunity and the trust placed by Governor Whitmer in my ability to serve the people of Michigan. I also want to thank my colleagues at Clark Hill for their unwavering support, mentorship, and friendship. I look forward to getting to work and serving the state that raised me and shaped my values,' said Trebilcock in a news release sent to 6 News. This appointment will fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Mark Cavanagh. Judge Daniel Korobkin currently serves as the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. Korobkin also serves as a co-chair of the Michigan State Bar's Access to Justice Policy Committee and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan's representative assembly. Korobkin is a member of the Detroit Bar Association, the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan, the American Constitution Society, and the National Lawyers Guild. He teaches part-time at the University of Michigan Law School and volunteers as a judge for moot court competitions and first-year legal practice classes at the University of Michigan Law School and Wayne State University Law School. Judge Korobkin earned his law degree from Yale Law School, where he worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant through the law school's Coker Fellowship. Korobkin also holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Swarthmore College. 'I am immensely grateful to Governor Whitmer for this appointment, and I look forward to serving the people of the State of Michigan on the Court of Appeals,' said Korobkin in a news release sent to 6 News. This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Jane Markey. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Patrick Lyoya shooting death: Family wants justice as trial of ex-Grand Rapids officer set to begin
The Brief An ex-Grand Rapids police officer will stand trial in the shooting death of an unarmed man, Patrick Lyoya in April, 2022. During a struggle, Schurr deployed his Taser twice with no effect and Lyoya allegedly tried grabbing for it. Schurr screamed multiple times to drop the Taser as he fought to gain control of Lyoya before he ultimately shot him. FOX 2 - Peter Lyoya shared the heartbreak of losing his son to a police shooting three years ago, in a case that made national headlines. "We can not fill the void Patrick has left. We're still mourning Patrick," said Lyoya through an interpreter. "The entire world have seen what happened to him." The backstory Patrick Lyoya was killed, shot in the back of the head after a struggle with former Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Schurr on April 4th, 2022. Schurr was charged with second-degree murder. Three years later, the criminal trial is finally set to begin April 28th. "He's at home enjoying his life while my son has been buried for three years," said Peter Lyoya. "We're seeking justice." Patrick was a Congolese refugee — his father, Peter Lyoya, speaks Swahili and Israel Siku is his translator. Peter said these past three years have left a void in his family and says Schurr must face justice. "I would like to see him behind bars," he said. "He doesn't deserve to be in the community because he is a danger to the community. If he has done that to my son down the road he may end up doing it to someone else." "No matter what Schurr says at the time of his trial - because I'm convinced he will testify - you can't justify shooting and killing somebody, an unarmed person in the back of the head when they don't have a gun or aren't able to kill you in that moment," said attorney Ven Johnson. The defense has argued self-defense on behalf of Schurr. In the videos Schurr asks Lyoya if he has a license. He appeared confused, then begins running. During the fight, Schurr deployed his Taser twice with no effect and Lyoya allegedly tried grabbing for it. Schurr screamed multiple times to drop the Taser as he fought to gain control of Lyoya before he ultimately shot him. In a cell phone video recorded by the passenger in Lyoya's car, Schurr is seen on top of Lyoya as he is face down. He tells Lyoya to drop the Taser and reaches to his belt for his gun. An autopsy confirmed that Lyoya was shot in the back of the head. Related: Ex-cop Christopher Schurr should stand trial for killing Patrick Lyoya, Michigan Court of Appeals rules Christopher Schurr, officer who shot Patrick Lyoya, fired from Grand Rapids Police Department Watch: Prosecutor announces charges in shooting of Patrick Lyoya "This is not only one of the most important cases in the history of Grand Rapids, it's one of the most important cases in the history of Michigan," said Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack. Womack said he is hoping for justice, fighting for change — and praying for peace. "We had peace before the trial, we're looking for peace during the trial, and we want to see peace after the trial," he said. The jury selection is set to begin on April 21st. Additionally, Ven Johnson is one of the attorneys representing the Lyoya family in the civil case which has undergone multiple appeals. Christopher Schurr's attorney did not return calls to FOX 2. "If really this country is a country of justice and not looking at the color of the skin of my son, I believe we will get a true justice," Peter Lyoya said."I believe that." The Source Information for this story was gathered from a press conference with the Lyoya family and previous reports.
