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Resident urges term limits for judges and criticizes perceived judicial errors
Summary
At the Livingston County meeting, Steve Williams told commissioners about difficulties in family‑court cases, criticized judicial appointments, cited salary and cost figures for judicial terms, and urged local lawmakers to pursue term‑limit legislation for judges.
Steve Williams of Maryanne (Marian) Township addressed the board during the public‑comment periods, describing difficulties he and others faced in family‑court proceedings and calling for changes to how judges are selected and retained.
Williams described payments to a guardian ad litem he called "totally useless" and said the guardian charged about $300 per hour. He urged the commission to ask state lawmakers to consider term limits for judges, saying Michigan judges serve six‑year terms and suggesting four‑year terms would allow voters more frequent review.
He criticized recent appointments and said the governor had been "trying to load the bench with young liberals," and referenced a retirement and subsequent appointment that he characterized as a mistake. Williams used salary figures to underscore his point, saying a $172,000 annual judicial salary over a six‑year term becomes "a million" in total compensation and that shorter terms could reduce the long‑term cost of what he called mistakes.
Williams also spoke on a second public‑comment call, repeating criticism of an individual he named "Judge Bane," saying that the judge's demeanor suggested insecurity and that the judge's conduct could negatively affect children who go through family court.
The comments were made during public‑comment periods; the commission's public record shows no formal response or action by the board in reaction to Williams’s remarks.
