Top Court Asked to Decide If Mich. Gov. Can Remove Detroit Mayor
Updated: Just minutes after a state court refused today to block the Michigan governor’s planned hearing tomorrow over the possible ouster of Detroit’s embattled mayor, counsel for Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick filed an emergency appeal.
But then the governor’s office went a step further and asked the state’s highest court to hear the matter immediately, reports the Associated Press.
“This constitutional challenge involves a controlling question of public law of such public moment as to require early and final determination by the Michigan Supreme Court,” says Gov. Jennifer Granholm in a court filing.
The supreme court apparently didn’t grant the governor’s request, though, and the appeals court says it will take up the issue tonight, the AP reports in a subsequent article.
At a bond hearing this afternoon, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Groner ruled that Kilpatrick can take off his electronic tether, but cannot leave the Detroit area, the Free Press reported.
As discussed in earlier ABAJournal.com posts, Kilpatrick is a defendant in two criminal cases, one of which concerns his alleged false testimony in two police whistle-blower cases. Meanwhile, the public and members of the Detroit City Council are outraged about an $8.4 million settlement of the two whistle-blower cases. That’s because it reportedly included an unsuccessful effort to keep secret text messages between Kilpatrick and a former top aide that allegedly revealed both their affair and their false testimony in the whistle-blower cases.
At last report, Kilpatrick is said to be attempting to negotiate a plea bargain that would involve his resigning his job and giving up his law license, at least for a specified period of time, but would not involve any jail term.
Additional coverage:
Detroit Free Press: “Granholm seeks quick go-ahead from Michigan Supreme Court”
ABAJournal.com: “Detroit Mayor Sues to Stop Ouster Hearing, Claims Gov. is Biased”
Updated at 3:40 p.m. to include link to Free Press article; at 4:20 p.m., to include latest AP news; and at 4:34 p.m. to include news from the bond hearing.
