Bridget McCormack, the chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, said on Monday that she will retire by the end of the year. Some speculate that she may become a federal judge, but no formal explanation was provided for her departure.
“I’m questioning the timing of it. 25% of the way through a re-election term, after just handing down a scathing opinion the GOP didn’t like in a significant case,” one poster on Twitter wrote in response to the announcement.
She had just won her seat in 2020:
Congratulations Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack on your re-election to the the Michigan Supreme Court! pic.twitter.com/Pe8do9v9qT
— Michigan Democrats (@MichiganDems) November 4, 2020
In 2020, Democratic Party nominee McCormack was reelected to a second eight-year term. She has been playing since 2013. She is the ninth woman to serve as chief justice and the sixth woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
She was dissatisfied with Republicans on abortion, which she supported:
BREAKING: Michigan Supreme Court, in a 5-2 ruling, orders the Reproductive Freedom For All proposed abortion-related amendment on the November ballot: https://t.co/BxcHneRrFp pic.twitter.com/V74H51yK7W
— Chris “Subscribe to Law Dork” Geidner (@chrisgeidner) September 8, 2022
Justice Elizabeth Clement, a Republican, joined the four Democratic justices in the majority.
Justices Brian Zahra and David Viviano, the other two Republicans on the court, both dissented.
Zahra is up for re-election this fall, as is Justice Richard Bernstein, a Democrat.
— Chris “Subscribe to Law Dork” Geidner (@chrisgeidner) September 8, 2022
According to a press release, McCormack notified Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of her plans for retirement and will step down no later than Dec. 31, but not before Nov. 22.
NEWS RELEASE: Chief Justice @BridgetMaryMc to Retire from Michigan Supreme Court; State’s leading jurist leaving behind a legacy of increased accessibility, engagement, efficiency, and independence in the judiciary.
NEWS RELEASE: Chief Justice @BridgetMaryMc to Retire from Michigan Supreme Court; State’s leading jurist leaving behind a legacy of increased accessibility, engagement, efficiency, and independence in the judiciary https://t.co/DCx26cH1rG pic.twitter.com/p43ru8dqOr
— MI Supreme Court (@MISupremeCourt) September 12, 2022
More on this story via The Republic Brief:
“A decade can be a common measuring point for personal and professional change. Over the last 10 years, my kids grew up and went off to college and graduate school, we bought a pickup truck and an RV, and I have had the honor of serving as Chief Justice for the past four years,” McCormack said in a statement.
“Making good on a campaign promise I made in 2012, I have given my every effort to do justice and to make the Michigan judiciary as fair and accessible as possible. After a decade, the time has come for me to move on, to let others lead, and to build on a foundation of progress.” CONTINUE READING…