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JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

MCL ch. 168, subtit. Act 116 of 1954, ch. XIX
in effect

MCL 168.411 Judge of circuit court; eligibility.

168.411. Judge of circuit court; eligibility. Sec. 411. A person is not eligible to the office of judge of the circuit court unless the person is a registered and qualified elector of the judicial circuit in which election is sought by the filing deadline or the date the person files the affidavit of candidacy, as provided in section 11 of article VI of the state constitution of 1963, is licensed to practice law in this state, and, at the time of election, is less than 70 years of age. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1955, Act 271, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964; Am. 1982, Act 505, Eff. Mar. 30, 1983; Am. 1999, Act 218, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2018, Act 120, Eff. Dec. 31, 2018 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.412 Candidates for circuit court judge; nomination at general nonpartisan primary election; omission.

168.412. Candidates for circuit court judge; nomination at general nonpartisan primary election; omission. Sec. 412. A general nonpartisan primary election shall be held in every county of this state on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in August prior to the general election at which judges of the circuit court are elected, at which time the qualified and registered electors may vote for nonpartisan candidates for the office of judge of the circuit court. If, upon the expiration of the time for filing petitions or incumbency affidavits of candidacy for the primary election of said judge of the circuit court in any judicial circuit, it shall appear that there are not to exceed twice the number of candidates as there are persons to be elected, then the secretary of state shall certify to the county board of election commissioners the name of such candidate for circuit court judge whose petitions or affidavits have been properly filed, and such candidate shall be the nominee for the judge of the circuit court and shall be so certified. As to such office, there shall be no primary election and this office shall be omitted from the judicial primary ballot. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.413 Judge of circuit court; nominating petitions; filing; affidavit; receiving petitions; applicability of MCL 168.544a and 168.544b; receipt of incorrect or inaccurate written information from secretary of state or bureau of elections; equitable relief; challenge.

168.413. Judge of circuit court; nominating petitions; filing; affidavit; receiving petitions; applicability of MCL 168.544a and 168.544b; receipt of incorrect or inaccurate written information from secretary of state or bureau of elections; equitable relief; challenge. Sec. 413. (1) To obtain the printing of the name of a person as a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of the circuit court upon the official nonpartisan primary ballots, there must be filed with the secretary of state nominating petitions containing the signatures, addresses, and dates of signing of a number of qualified and registered electors residing in the judicial circuit as determined under section 544f or by the filing of an affidavit according to section 413a. The secretary of state shall receive the nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary. The provisions of sections 544a and 544b apply. (2) If a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of the circuit court receives incorrect or inaccurate written information from the secretary of state or the bureau of elections concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f and that incorrect or inaccurate written information is published or distributed by the secretary of state or the bureau of elections, the candidate may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for equitable relief. A court may grant equitable relief to a candidate under this subsection if all of the following occur: (a) The candidate brings the action for equitable relief within 6 days after the candidate is notified by the secretary of state or the bureau of elections that the candidate's nominating petition contains insufficient signatures. (b) The candidate files an affidavit certifying that he or she contacted and received from the secretary of state or the bureau of elections incorrect or inaccurate written information concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f. (c) The secretary of state or the bureau of elections published or distributed the incorrect or inaccurate written information concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f before the filing deadline under subsection (1). (d) The secretary of state or bureau of elections did not inform the candidate at least 14 days before the filing deadline under subsection (1) that incorrect or inaccurate written information concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f had been published or distributed. (3) If a court grants equitable relief to a candidate under subsection (2), the candidate must be given the opportunity to obtain additional nominating petition signatures to meet the requirements under section 544f. The additional nominating petition signatures obtained by a candidate must be filed with the secretary of state no later than 4 p.m. on the fifth business day after the date that the court order granting equitable relief is filed. (4) The nominating petition signatures filed under this section are subject to challenge as provided in section 552. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1955, Act 271, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1955; Am. 1957, Act 293, Eff. Sept. 27, 1957; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964; Am. 1976, Act 3, Imd. Eff. Feb. 3, 1976; Am. 1990, Act 7, Imd. Eff. Feb. 12, 1990; Am. 1996, Act 583, Eff. Mar. 31, 1997; Am. 1999, Act 218, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2009, Act 206, Imd. Eff. Jan. 4, 2009; Am. 2012, Act 276, Eff. Aug. 16, 2012; Am. 2018, Act 120, Eff. Dec. 31, 2018 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.413a Incumbent circuit court judge; affidavit of candidacy.

168.413a. Incumbent circuit court judge; affidavit of candidacy. Sec. 413a. (1) Any incumbent circuit court judge may become a candidate in the primary election for the office of which he or she is an incumbent by filing with the secretary of state an affidavit of candidacy not less than 134 days before the date of the primary election. However, if an incumbent judge of the circuit court was appointed to fill a vacancy and the judge entered upon the duties of office less than 137 days before the date of the primary election but before the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary election, the incumbent judge may file the affidavit of candidacy not more than 3 days after entering upon the duties of office. (2) The affidavit of candidacy must contain statements that the affiant is an incumbent circuit court judge for the circuit in which election is sought, that he or she is domiciled within the circuit, and that he or she will not attain the age of 70 by the date of election, and must contain a declaration that he or she is a candidate for election to the office of circuit court judge. Add. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964; Am. 1966, Act 38, Imd. Eff. May 26, 1966; Am. 1970, Act 10, Imd. Eff. Mar. 31, 1970; Am. 1999, Act 218, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2012, Act 276, Eff. Aug. 16, 2012; Am. 2018, Act 120, Eff. Dec. 31, 2018 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.414 Candidates for nomination; withdrawal; notice.

168.414. Candidates for nomination; withdrawal; notice. Sec. 414. After the filing of a nominating petition or affidavit of candidacy by or in behalf of a proposed candidate for the office of judge of the circuit court, the proposed candidate is not permitted to withdraw unless he or she serves a written notice of withdrawal on the secretary of state or his or her duly authorized agent. The notice must be served not later than 3 days after the last day for filing nominating petitions if a nominating petition was filed for the proposed candidate, and not later than 3 days after the last day for filing affidavits of candidacy if an affidavit of candidacy was filed for the proposed candidate. If the third day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the notice of withdrawal may be served on the secretary of state or his or her duly authorized agent at any time on or before 4 p.m., eastern standard time, on the next secular day. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1959, Act 173, Eff. Mar. 19, 1960; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964; Am. 1999, Act 218, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.415 Candidates for judge of circuit court; declaration of nominees; certification of nomination; death or disqualification of candidate.

168.415. Candidates for judge of circuit court; declaration of nominees; certification of nomination; death or disqualification of candidate. Sec. 415. (1) The candidates for the office of judge of the circuit court receiving the largest number of votes at any primary election, to a number equal to twice the number of persons to be elected as set forth in the report of the board of state canvassers, based on the returns from the various county boards of canvassers and election precincts or as determined by the board of state canvassers as the result of a recount, shall be declared the nominees for the office at the next general election. The board of state canvassers shall certify the nomination to the county election commissions. (2) If, after the deadline for filing nominating petitions under section 413, there are fewer candidates for nomination or nominees for the office of judge of the circuit court than there are persons to be elected at the general November election because of the death or disqualification of a candidate more than 65 days before the general November election, then a person, whether or not an incumbent, may qualify as a nominee for that office at the general November election by filing nominating petitions as required by section 413. However, the filing shall be made before 4 p.m. on the twenty-first day following the death or disqualification of the candidate or 4 p.m. on the sixtieth day preceding the general November election, whichever is earlier, and the minimum number of signatures required is 1,000 or 1/2 the minimum number required under section 413, whichever is less. (3) The secretary of state shall certify the nomination of each person who qualifies as a nominee under subsection (2) to the board of election commissioners specified by section 687 for the general November election. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964; Am. 1990, Act 32, Imd. Eff. Mar. 21, 1990 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.416 Judge of circuit court; election; death or disqualification of nominee.

168.416. Judge of circuit court; election; death or disqualification of nominee. Sec. 416. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a judge or judges of the circuit court shall be elected in each judicial circuit at the general election in which judges of the circuit court are to be elected as provided by law. (2) If there are fewer nominees for the office of judge of the circuit court than there are persons to be elected at the general November election because of the death or disqualification of a nominee less than 66 days before the general November election, then a person shall not be elected at that general November election to any office of judge of the circuit court for which there is no nominee. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964; Am. 1990, Act 32, Imd. Eff. Mar. 21, 1990 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.417 Circuit court judges; certificate of determination by board of state canvassers.

168.417. Circuit court judges; certificate of determination by board of state canvassers. Sec. 417. The board of state canvassers shall determine which candidate or candidates for the office of judge of the circuit court received the greatest number of votes and shall declare such candidate or candidates duly elected. The said board shall forthwith make and subscribe on its statement of returns a certificate of such determination and deliver the same to the secretary of state. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.418 Circuit court judges; preservation of statement and determination; certificate of election.

168.418. Circuit court judges; preservation of statement and determination; certificate of election. Sec. 418. The secretary of state shall file in his office and preserve the original statement and determination of the board of state canvassers of the result of the election and shall forthwith execute and cause to be delivered to the person or persons thereby declared to be elected to the office of judge of the circuit court a certificate of election certified by him and under the great seal of the state. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.419 Circuit court judges; terms of office.

168.419. Circuit court judges; terms of office. Sec. 419. With the exception of the terms of certain judges elected in 1966, the term of office for judge of the circuit court shall be 6 years, commencing at 12 noon on January 1 next following his election and shall continue until a successor shall have been elected and qualified. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.420 Circuit court judges; oath of office, filing.

168.420. Circuit court judges; oath of office, filing. Sec. 420. Every person elected to the office of judge of the circuit court, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe to the oath as provided in section 1 of article 11 of the state constitution, and file the same with the secretary of state and a copy with each county clerk in his circuit. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.421 Circuit court judges; resignation, notice.

168.421. Circuit court judges; resignation, notice. Sec. 421. Any person duly elected to the office of judge of the circuit court who desires to resign shall file a written notice containing the effective date of such resignation with the court administrator and a copy with the governor and secretary of state. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.422 Circuit court judges; vacancy, creation.

168.422. Circuit court judges; vacancy, creation. Sec. 422. The office of circuit judge shall become vacant upon the happening of any of the following events before the expiration of the term of office: The death of the incumbent; his resignation; his removal from office for cause; his ceasing to be an inhabitant of the circuit for which he shall have been elected or appointed or within which the duties of his office are required to be discharged; his conviction of any infamous crime, or of any offense involving a violation of his oath of office; the decision of a competent tribunal declaring his election or appointment void; or his neglect or refusal to take and subscribe to the constitutional oath of office and deposit the same in the manner and within the time prescribed by law. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.423 Circuit court judges; impeachment; removal from office, service of charges, hearing; vacancy, notice.

168.423. Circuit court judges; impeachment; removal from office, service of charges, hearing; vacancy, notice. Sec. 423. Any person holding the office of circuit judge may be removed from office upon conviction in impeachment proceedings for the reasons and in the manner set forth in section 7 of article 11 of the state constitution, or the governor shall remove any circuit judge upon a concurrent resolution of 2/3 of the members elected to and serving in each house of the state legislature, and the cause for such removal shall be stated at length in such resolution, as provided in the constitution of this state. Such person shall be served with a written notice of the charges against him and be afforded an opportunity for a hearing thereon. When a vacancy shall occur in any of the said offices, a notice of such vacancy and the reason why the same exists shall, within 10 days after such vacancy occurs, be given in writing by the secretary of state to the supreme court, with a copy to the governor. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.424 Judge of circuit court; appointment to fill vacancy; election of successor; term.

168.424. Judge of circuit court; appointment to fill vacancy; election of successor; term. Sec. 424. (1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of circuit judge, the governor shall appoint a successor to fill the vacancy. Except as otherwise provided in section 424a(3), the person appointed by the governor shall be considered an incumbent for purposes of this act. The person appointed by the governor shall hold office until 12 noon of January 1 following the next general November election at which a successor is elected and qualified. (2) Except as otherwise provided in section 415(2), if the vacancy occurs more than 7 days before the nominating petition filing deadline as provided in section 413 for the general November election that is not the general November election at which a successor in office would be elected if there were no vacancy, the person appointed shall hold office only until a successor is elected at the next general November election in the manner provided in this chapter for the election of circuit judges. The person elected shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1957, Act 236, Eff. Sept. 27, 1957; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964; Am. 1970, Act 10, Imd. Eff. Mar. 31, 1970; Am. 1990, Act 7, Imd. Eff. Feb. 12, 1990; Am. 1990, Act 32, Imd. Eff. Mar. 21, 1990; Am. 1999, Act 218, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2014, Act 94, Imd. Eff. Apr. 3, 2014 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.424a Primary and general election for 2 or more judgeships; listing categories of candidates on ballot; validity of filed petitions; death or disqualification of incumbent judge; filing for election to more than 1 circuit judgeship; withdrawal; office designation.

168.424a. Primary and general election for 2 or more judgeships; listing categories of candidates on ballot; validity of filed petitions; death or disqualification of incumbent judge; filing for election to more than 1 circuit judgeship; withdrawal; office designation. Sec. 424a. (1) In the primary and general election for 2 or more judgeships of the circuit court, each of the following categories of candidates shall be listed separately on the ballot, consistent with subsection (3): (a) The names of candidates for the judgeship or judgeships for which the incumbent is seeking election. (b) The names of candidates for an existing judgeship or judgeships for which the incumbent is not seeking election. (c) The names of candidates for a newly created judgeship or judgeships. (2) Nominating petitions filed under section 413 are valid only if they clearly indicate for which of the following offices the candidate is filing, consistent with subsection (3): (a) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is not seeking election. (b) A new judgeship. (c) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is seeking election. (3) If the death or disqualification of an incumbent judge triggers the application of section 415(2), then for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), that judgeship shall be regarded as a judgeship for which the incumbent judge is not seeking election. The application of this subsection includes, but is not limited to, circumstances in which the governor appoints an individual to fill the vacancy and that individual seeks to qualify as a nominee under section 415(2). (4) A person who files nominating petitions for election to more than 1 circuit judgeship shall have not more than 3 days following the close of filing to withdraw from all but 1 filing. (5) In a primary and general election for 2 or more judgeships where more than 1 of the categories in subsection (2) could be selected, a candidate shall apply to the bureau of elections for a written statement of office designation to correspond to the judgeship sought by the candidate. The office designation provided by the secretary of state shall be included in the heading of all nominating petitions. Nominating petitions containing an improper office designation are invalid. (6) The secretary of state shall issue an office designation of incumbent position for any judgeship for which the incumbent judge is eligible to seek reelection. If an incumbent judge does not file an affidavit of candidacy by the deadline, the secretary of state shall notify all candidates for that office that a nonincumbent position exists. All nominating petitions circulated for the nonincumbent position subsequent to the deadline shall bear an office designation of nonincumbent position. All signatures collected prior to the affidavit of candidacy filing deadline may be filed with the nonincumbent nominating petitions. Add. 1977, Act 134, Eff. Mar. 30, 1978; Am. 1982, Act 149, Imd. Eff. May 6, 1982; Am. 1990, Act 32, Imd. Eff. Mar. 21, 1990; Am. 1999, Act 218, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.425 Circuit court judges; primary or election, recount of votes.

168.425. Circuit court judges; primary or election, recount of votes. Sec. 425. The votes cast for any candidate for circuit judge at any primary or election shall be subject to recount as provided in chapter 33 of this act. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.426 Circuit court judges; not subject to recall.

168.426. Circuit court judges; not subject to recall. Sec. 426. Judicial officers are not subject to recall as provided in section 8 of article 2 of the state constitution. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 59, Eff. Mar. 24, 1964 [PopularName] Election Code
Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/Chapter%20168.xmlFetched: 10/20/2026

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