Upper Peninsula State Reps. Beau LaFave, left, and Greg Markkanen address colleagues in the Michigan House today, urging their support of legislation to save the 95-A District Court judgeship in Menominee County from elimination.

State Rep. Beau LaFave today praised his colleagues in the House for unanimously approving a plan to save the 95-A District Court judgeship in Menominee County from elimination.

LaFave, of Iron Mountain, said the legislation would reverse the 2012 action to eliminate the position, which is slated to take effect March 31 of this year. The 2012 law eliminating the position was based on a State Court Administrator’s Office recommendation calling for the removal based on data from 2008-2010.

“It doesn’t matter if you live in Marquette or Menominee – everyone deserves due process of law,” LaFave said. “I respect my colleagues in the House for acting unanimously to preserve this judicial resource for U.P. residents.”

Currently, only 11 judges are available to handle nearly half of all cases in the Upper Peninsula. LaFave said eliminating one more would only worsen the imbalance that already exists.

Senate Bill 87, sponsored by Sen. Ed McBroom of Vulcan, will now be transmitted to the governor, who will consider whether to sign it into law.

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