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Court of Appeals warns of rising backlog, supports modest budget increase
Summary
Michigan Court of Appeals leaders told the Senate appropriations subcommittee that filings have returned to pre‑COVID levels while dispositions lag, producing a rising pending caseload; the court supports a proposed $400,000 increase but warned it may seek additional funds to address staffing and retention.
Chief Judge Godolah of the Michigan Court of Appeals told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections and Judiciary that the court is facing a growing pending caseload and staffing challenges and endorsed the governor’s recommended $400,000 increase for the court’s next fiscal year.
Godolah said the court disposed of more than 4,600 cases in 2024 while receiving 4,833 new filings, a return to pre‑COVID annual filing levels near 5,000. He said the court’s clearance rate — the number of dispositions compared with new filings — has been below 100% for three consecutive years, and the pending caseload has risen from about 2,500 at the end of 2021 to more than 3,700 today.
The chief judge attributed the backlog partly to judicial vacancies and turnover among research attorneys, which reduces the number of monthly case‑call panels the court can staff. He told the subcommittee, “I just wanted to forewarn you, that it could be that this time next year I would be coming before you to ask for some additional funding to help us in the processing of our case load so we can... chip away at that pending case load number.”
Godolah said the court is taking administrative steps to improve processing and hopes that two outstanding vacancies will be filled by gubernatorial appointment soon. He described difficulties retaining newly hired research attorneys, noting starting salaries for entry‑level research attorneys begin at grade 17, step 2—roughly $70,000—and said many recruits leave for higher private‑sector offers after a year or two.
The court also reported facilities work: it is moving staff out of leased space in Troy into state‑owned Cadillac Place in Detroit. Godolah said bids for the move were under the budgeted amount and that the court expects to complete the relocation later this year; the Troy lease expires in November of next year.
Senators asked about salary competitiveness and a compensation study reportedly underway across the judicial branch and SCAO; Godolah said the court is hopeful study findings will inform future budget requests. The subcommittee did not take final action on the Court of Appeals request at the hearing.
Chief Judge Godolah thanked the committee for its time and said court leadership is available to provide follow-up information.
