You probably don’t think about the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing very often. Most people don’t. We tend to focus on the flashy headlines coming out of Washington D.C., but honestly, the seven people wearing black robes in our state capital have a much more direct impact on your life. They decide if your property taxes were calculated fairly, whether a new environmental regulation holds water, and how elections are actually run on the ground.
Being a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court isn't just a fancy title; it's a high-stakes job where a single vote can change the trajectory of state law for decades.
Who is on the Bench Right Now?
As of early 2026, the court has a pretty distinct personality. It’s currently leaning 6-1 in terms of justices nominated by the Democratic party, though the ballot itself is technically nonpartisan. That’s a huge shift from just a few years ago.
Here is the current roster as we sit here in 2026:
- Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh: She’s been the Chief since April 2025. She’s a Wayne State Law grad with a massive background in appellate law.
- Justice Brian Zahra: The lone Republican-nominated justice left on the bench. He’s been there since 2011 and is basically the veteran voice of the conservative wing.
- Justice Richard Bernstein: You might recognize him from his family’s ubiquitous law firm ads, but he’s carved out a very specific niche on the court focusing on accessibility and disability rights.
- Justice Elizabeth Welch: Elected in 2020, she brought a lot of employment law expertise to the table.
- Justice Kyra Harris Bolden: History-maker. She was the first Black woman on the court, originally appointed by Governor Whitmer before winning her own seat.
- Justice Kimberly Thomas: She joined the party on January 1, 2025, after winning a big election to succeed the retiring David Viviano.
- Justice Noah Hood: The newest addition, appointed in May 2025 to fill the vacancy left by Elizabeth Clement.
The Weird Way We Elect Them
Michigan does this thing with judicial elections that is, quite frankly, confusing. If you’ve ever stood in a voting booth and wondered why the Supreme Court candidates don’t have a "D" or an "R" next to their names, you’re not alone.
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Basically, the political parties nominate these candidates at their conventions. They literally pick their "champion." But then, when the actual election rolls around in November, the names appear on the nonpartisan section of the ballot. It’s a bit of a "don’t ask, don't tell" situation for political affiliations. You have to do your homework beforehand to know who is who.
Justices serve eight-year terms. That is a long time. It’s longer than the Governor and longer than state legislators. This is meant to give them some independence, so they aren't constantly worried about the next election cycle.
However, there is one hard rule: the age 70 limit. In Michigan, you cannot be elected or appointed to a judicial office once you’ve hit 70. You can finish your term if you turn 70 while serving, but you can't run again. It’s why we see so much turnover—legal giants like David Viviano or Bridget Mary McCormack often leave or age out, triggering a scramble for their seats.
What Does a Justice Actually Do All Day?
It’s not all dramatic "I object!" moments. Most of the work is reading. Lots of reading.
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The court gets over 2,000 "applications for leave to appeal" every year. They only actually hear oral arguments for maybe 60 to 80 of those. Basically, they are the filters of the state's legal system. If they decide not to hear a case, the lower court’s ruling stands. That power of "denying leave" is just as important as the opinions they actually write.
When they do take a case, they sit in that wood-paneled courtroom in Lansing. Lawyers get a limited amount of time to argue, and the justices pepper them with questions. Then, they go back to their chambers, debate, and eventually, one justice is assigned to write the "majority opinion."
Recent Cases That Actually Matter
If you think this is all abstract, look at some of the stuff they've handled recently. In 2025, the court dealt with a massive case involving Jacqueline Davis v. BetMGM. It was about a woman who won $3 million on a gambling app, but the company refused to pay, claiming a glitch. The court had to decide the fine line between contract law and "terms of service" that nobody ever reads.
They also constantly handle "People v. [Name]" criminal cases that set the rules for how police can search your car or your phone. For example, a recent 2025 case, People v. Kardasz, forced the court to look at sentencing guidelines for sexual assault cases involving minors. These decisions don't just affect the people in the case; they become the "law of the land" for every cop and judge in Michigan.
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Common Misconceptions
One thing people get wrong is thinking the court is just a "mini-legislature." It’s not. Or at least, it shouldn't be.
- They don't make laws: They interpret them. If the legislature writes a messy law about marijuana taxes, the court has to figure out what the words actually mean when a business sues the state.
- They aren't just "liberals" or "conservatives": While their backgrounds influence them, you’d be surprised how often they vote 7-0. Many legal issues are technical—like how to interpret a specific paragraph in a 50-year-old insurance statute.
- The Governor doesn't "own" them: Even though Governor Whitmer appointed many of the current justices, they've ruled against the executive branch before. Once they have that 8-year term, they are pretty much their own bosses.
How You Can Actually Use This Information
If you’re a Michigan resident, you have more power over the justice of the Michigan Supreme Court than you do over a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. You actually get to vote for them.
- Check the nonpartisan ballot: Don't skip the back page of your ballot. That’s where the real power lives.
- Look for "incumbency": If a justice is already on the court, their name will have a designation saying they are a justice. If they were appointed by the Governor to fill a vacancy, they still have to run in the next general election to keep the seat.
- Follow the "orders": The court releases orders almost every Tuesday and Wednesday. You can see what they are choosing to ignore and what they are choosing to tackle by checking the official Michigan Courts website.
Knowing who is sitting on that bench is the first step in understanding why Michigan laws work the way they do. Next time there’s an election, look past the attack ads and see which candidates actually have the appellate experience to handle the 2,000+ cases that fly across their desks every year.
To stay informed, you should regularly check the Michigan Supreme Court's "Oral Argument Calendar." This tells you which high-impact cases are coming up for debate. Watching a livestream of these arguments is one of the best ways to see how the justices think and which way the legal winds are blowing in Lansing. It’s free, public, and usually more interesting than whatever is on cable news.