State Rep. Tom Kuhn, R-Troy, today issued the following statement after House Democrats removed of House Bill 5131 from tomorrow’s committee agenda. The bill would have created a new Court of Appeals district and packed the court with six new judgeships.

“House Democrats today listened to public outcry and removed House Bill 5131 from committee consideration. The bill would have disproportionately packed the Michigan Court of Appeals with six new judges in key Democrat strongholds. No one asked for this, caseloads have not increased, and there was little time for public input.

“Partisans attempted to slip this through the cracks while no one was looking. Luckily the public recognized this as a politically motivated court-packing scheme. The outcry over this attempt to play partisan politics with the judicial system rightly left this bill dead on arrival.

“With things going south quickly, I’m glad to see Democrats yield and end this blatant attempt to pack the courts.”

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