Justices to hear challenge to county commission apportionment law

 A reapportionment plan for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners is at stake in a case that the Michigan Supreme Court will hear today1. 

 
The plaintiffs in Houston, et al. v Governor of Michigan and Oakland County Board of Commissioners challenge 2011 Public Act 280, which limits county commissions to 21 members. The plaintiffs argue in part that the law is unconstitutional as a “local or special act” that currently applies only to Oakland County, which has a 25-member commission. The act would mandate a new apportionment plan for the county, which approved one in 2011 before PA 280 went into effect. In addition, PA 280 would change the composition of the county apportionment commission; the board of commissioners would become the apportionment commission. The plaintiffs prevailed in a 2-1 decision of the Court of Appeals; the Supreme Court will now hear oral argument to decide whether to grant the governor’s and board’s applications for leave to appeal, or take other action. 
 
The court will hear arguments in its courtroom on the sixth floor of the Michigan Hall of Justice on March 21, starting at 9:30 a.m. The court’s oral arguments are open to the public. 
 
Briefs are online at http://www.courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt/Clerk/msc_orals.htm.

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