Democrats endorse Michigan Supreme Court candidates

March 12, 2012

Michigan: This weekend the Michigan Democratic Party hosted its Endorsement Convention, an unusual gathering designed to allow Supreme Court candidates five extra months to campaign for the statewide contests. Michigan is the only state that selects judicial candidates for the high court at nominating convention each year. The unusual aspect to this year's gathering is that it occurred in March.

The selections made this weekend are technically non-binding, since the official party convention will take place in September. However, there are three seats for the court on the ballot this year. Two of those are incumbents running for re-election, while one, that of Marilyn Kelly, will be open. On a closely ideologically divided Supreme Court, Democrats hope that Kelly will be replaced by a member of her own party.

So three judicial candidates have already received the stamp of approval from their political party. Democratic candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court in 2012 are:

• Shelia Johnson, judge on the 46th District Court;

• Connie Marie Kelley, 3rd Circuit Court judge; and

• Bridget McCormack, a law professor at the University of Michigan.