A bill that would keep all three judgeships at the 48th District Court passed the Michigan House on July 1 and is now before the state Senate, where no vote date has been set.
House Bill 4833, sponsored by State Rep. Donni Steele (R-Orion Township), blocks a planned reduction that would have eliminated one judgeship the next time a judge retires or otherwise leaves the bench. The court serves seven Oakland County communities: Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield Township, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake Village, and Sylvan Lake.
The reduction was enacted in 2011 as part of a statewide effort to shrink the judiciary. Steele argued the legal landscape has shifted dramatically since then, with major legislative reforms in criminal justice, landlord-tenant law, auto insurance, and expungements adding complexity to district court dockets.
"Today's courts are handling more responsibilities and more complex cases than lawmakers could have anticipated in 2011," Steele said in a July 1 press release announcing the bill's passage.
Steele said a two-judge court would risk backlogs and slower service for families, businesses, and property owners who rely on the 48th District Court for everything from civil disputes to misdemeanor cases.
Three local governments have formally backed the legislation. Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield Township, and the City of Birmingham each passed resolutions supporting HB 4833, citing the need to prevent case delays and maintain efficient court operations.
The bill is sourced from Steele's office; no public opposition has been reported, and annual caseload data for the 48th District Court was not immediately available to independently verify the workload claims.
The story gained local attention the week of July 21 when the Patch AM newsletter for Bloomfield Hills highlighted the bill as a top item for area residents.
What's next
HB 4833 must pass the Senate and reach the governor's desk before it becomes law. No committee hearing or floor vote has been scheduled. Residents can track the bill's progress at legislature.mi.gov.
