Politics

State Hands Back Local Control to Detroit 36th District Court

September 18, 2014, 4:26 PM by  Allan Lengel

Featured_judge_michael_talbot_14200
Judge Michael Talbot

The Michigan State Supreme Court handed back local control to Detroit's 36th District Court after a special judicial administrator implemented a host of changes and straightened out its finances.

A press release from the state Supreme Court on Thursday announced that control had been handed over to Chief 36th District Court  Judge Nancy M. Blount. 

In May 2013, the court appointed Special Judicial Administrator Michael J. Talbot, a state court of appeals judge, who implemented dozens of reforms to "improve service to the public and increase efficiency." His appointment came after a finding showed that the court was mismanaged, operating at a deficit and had a backlog of about 500,000 cases a year.

“I’m proud of the results and of everyone who works in this courthouse,” said Judge Talbot in a statement. “They had to make a lot of sacrifices, yet they produced a turned-around court. That’s heroic.”

A press release from the Supreme Court highlighted Talbot's accomplishments:

  • Reducing lines and improving service by, among other steps, opening more courtrooms.
  • Permanent  assigning judges to specific dockets, grouping courtrooms together by type, adding arraignments, expanding magistrate duties and installing monitors listing litigants and their \assigned courtrooms.
  • Improving fiscal accountability by balancing the budget, reforming the the budget, reforming the collection process, cutting costs, renegotiating union contracts and containing rising health care costs.
  • Management  reforms, including improved communication with judges and staff, recruiting new and experienced managers; and building bridges with community leaders to explain the reform process and enlist their support.



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