Pubdate: Wed, 26 Mar 2014
Source: Grand Rapids Press (MI)
Copyright: 2014 Grand Rapids Press
Contact:  http://www.mlive.com/grand-rapids/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/171
Author: Barton Deiters

MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE DISCUSSES GAY MARRIAGE,
MARIJUANA AND FUTURE OF THE COURTS

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court says
that while gay marriage is a federal issue right now, the state
judicial system could just as easily find itself wrestling with the
hot topic in the near future.

"I'm a spectator just like everyone else," said Robert P. Young Jr.,
who met with The Grand Rapids Press editorial board while attending a
judicial conference held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.

The justice addressed a variety of topics, including the shifting
state of gay marriage legality in the state.

Young said that the law is being decided at the federal court level
and that he expects the U.S. Supreme Court will decide the issue
before long.

The state's highest justice said the issue could come before him if
someone were to file a complaint in the state courts similar to the
lawsuits making their way in the federal court.

Because a case could come before him, Young refused to state his
position. He said citizens made a decision by voting for a state
Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, and he then
affirmed the court he oversees has a role as the "guardian of the
Constitution."

He said the decisions over last weekend where the voter-approved ban
was overturned by a federal judge only to have that decision stayed
the next day meant that a number of couples married by clerks on
Saturday morning are in a state of limbo.

Young did not criticize county clerks who decided to marry people or
those who did not.

"Clerks all see their duties in different ways," Young said. "I'll let
voters decide if that was providential."

Young said the equally contentious issue of medical marijuana
continues to confound proponents and opponents alike.

"I'm so sick of medical marijuana cases," the judge
said.

He said the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, passed by voters in 2008,
was created by proponents but consisted of parts that were "cut and
paste" from legislation in other states and resulted in a confusing
hodge-podge.

"It's no model of clarity," the judge understated. "It's a
mess."

Young said it has fallen on the courts to decipher the intent of the
muddled law, but it is up to lawmakers in Lansing to make
clarifications and changes that can make the law more rational.

"We're not there to reform the statute, that's the legislature's job,"
Young said.

Young was happy to talk about improvements made in the courts saying
his office has been working to ensure that Michigan courts at all
levels are devoted to customer service.

He said the changes, including a proposed reduction of 36 judges
statewide, were met with resistance on the part of the courts and the
judges, but he said the courts have shown measurable improvement in
efficiency.

Young recognized that Kent County has not been a target of reduction
and was instead recommended to add a judge, but the Kent County
Commission appears poised to reject the judge saying it would be too
costly to build additional courtroom space and staff the judge.

Young said he respects the decision of local government and recognizes
that they have to be on board when it comes to these decisions.

"We'll figure out how to work with it," he said.

"You really do have one of the better benches here," Young said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt