Bill

HB 5870

Courts: judges; circuit court and district court judgeship to Kalamazoo County; increase. Amends secs. 510 & 8117 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.510 & 600.8117).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Andrews and 4 co-sponsors

The bill would add one more judge to Kalamazoo County’s Ninth Circuit and one to the Eighth District if vacancies or election decisions occur, to reduce caseloads.

bill electronically reproduced 04/22/2026

#courts:circuitcourt #courts:districtcourt #courts:judges

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Bill Summary · HB 5870

Summary of HB 5870 (Michigan, 2025-2026)

Purpose

HB 5870 amends the Revised Judicature Act of 1961 to adjust the number of judges in the Kalamazoo County-related courts. Specifically, it creates the potential for adding an eighth judge to the Ninth Judicial Circuit (Kalamazoo County) and the possibility of a sixth district judge in the Eighth Judicial District (also Kalamazoo County) under certain conditions. The aim is to address caseload pressures by increasing judicial capacity in Kalamazoo County.

Key Provisions

Ninth Judicial Circuit (Kalamazoo County)

Current setup: The Ninth Judicial Circuit consists of Kalamazoo County and has 5 or 6 judges (the bill references “5 6,” likely meaning 5 or 6; the exact baseline is retained from existing law).
Additional judgeship: Subject to section 550 (a separate statutory control on when increases may occur), this circuit may have one additional judge effective January 1, 2025.
Initial term if added: If the extra judgeship is added, the initial term of office for the new judgeship would be 8 years, beginning January 1, 2027.

Eighth Judicial District (Kalamazoo County)

Current setup: The Eighth District consists of Kalamazoo County and is a district of the first class, currently with 7 judges (the text shows “7 6,” likely indicating 7, with potential for reduction or change).
Trigger for potential reallocation: Beginning on the earlier of:
- A vacancy in the office of a district judge in the Eighth District, or
- The date on which an incumbent district judge in the Eighth District no longer seeks election or reelection to that office.
Additional judgeship: Subject to section 8175, the Eighth District may have one additional judge beginning January 1, 2027.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Judicial System in Kalamazoo County: The bill targets Kalamazoo County’s circuits and district court structure. If triggers are met, the Ninth Judicial Circuit and the Eighth Judicial District could expand by one additional judge each.
Judges and Candidates: Prospective applicants for the additional judgeships would be subject to existing Michigan judicial selection and election processes. The new eight-year term for the added circuit judge would shape succession planning and caseload distribution.
Caseload Management: By enabling an additional judge in both the circuit and district courts, the bill aims to reduce backlogs and improve case resolution times in Kalamazoo County, contingent on vacancies or decisions not to seek reelection.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Effective dates for potential addition:
- Ninth Judicial Circuit: A potential new judge could be added effective January 1, 2025, with the initial eight-year term starting January 1, 2027.
- Eighth District: A potential additional judge could be added beginning January 1, 2027, subject to vacancies or incumbents not seeking reelection, and subject to another section (8175) for governing the addition.
Trigger Conditions:
- For the Ninth Circuit: Additions are subject to section 550 (not detailed in this text but existing in law).
- For the Eighth District: Additions are triggered by a vacancy or an incumbent not seeking reelection.

Notes

The bill text includes formatting inconsistencies (e.g., “5 6 judges” and “7 6 judges”) that appear to reflect drafting placeholders or typographical errors. The substantive intent is to provide for one additional judge in each specified Kalamazoo County judicial segment, subject to vacancies and term considerations, with stated effective and term start dates.

If you’d like, I can prepare a side-by-side comparison with current law language, or a timeline graphic outlining when each potential new judgeship could become active based on vacancies or election decisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.