Litigation

Weaver: ?Alice in Wonderland? on MI Top Court

By Peter Hardin

What should people make of the  dissenting views of former Justice Elizabeth Weaver of the Michigan Supreme Court — who has secretly recorded her colleagues and exposed them, and pushed for reforms including public financing of state high court campaigns?

Commentator Jack Lessenberry wrestles with that question about the sometimes-quirky Justice Weaver in a Detroit Metro Times piece. He ends up on her side. The essay is entitled, ‘Fix our highest court — The state’s supremes work in ‘needless secrecy.’”

In an interview, the retired justice told Lessenberry, “Needless secrecy in Supreme Court justices’ performance in the business of judicial government allows and encourages the abuse of the judicial powers. That can lead to violation of the rule of law, and unjust, unprofessional and unfair performance of the justices’ duties.”

In turn, he asked whether that had happened when she was on the bench. Her reply:

“Are you kidding? Much of the time I felt like Alice in Wonderland.”

Lessenberry goes on to sum up her concerns and reform proposals. He also notes that over time, people have told him she “was crazy.” His own conclusion:

“Well, yes. Her manner of speaking can be convoluted. And I still have a bad feeling about her secretly bugging and exposing her colleagues. But when it comes to reforming what the University of Chicago has called the worst state supreme court in the nation, I am begging to think that Betty Weaver just might be my kind of crazy.”

You can learn more about Justice Weaver’s proposals, and record, from Gavel Grab. Last year, she was censured by the state Supreme Court over her secretly recording a private conference with her then-fellow justices.

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 02, 2011 (boomark / email).