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Grand Traverse County commissioners hear request to pursue an additional probate judgeship after state time-study
Summary
Probate Judge Jennifer Whitton told the board a Michigan Supreme Court SCALE time-study found the county 'underjudged by 1.02,' prompting officials to seek a secondary review and submit a letter of support; the state would reimburse a judge's salary but the county must fund benefits and support staff.
Probate Judge Jennifer Whitton told Grand Traverse County commissioners during a study session that a Michigan Supreme Court SCALE time-study found the county's combined circuit and probate dockets "underjudged by 1.02," which the judges interpret as a need for roughly one additional judgeship.
Whitton said an additional elected probate judge would primarily handle family-division work and help shorten hearing timelines that now push criminal trials into early 2026 and delay contested civil and family matters. "We are underjudged by, at least 1 judge," Whitton said, noting the court is participating in a required secondary review by the Supreme Court.
The SCALE review is only the first step in a multi-branch process Whitton described: the Supreme Court's recommendation would go…
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