Supreme Court will hear emergency manager dispute

LANSING (AP) -- The Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments in two weeks in a dispute over a referendum that could overturn the state's emergency manager law. The court said Wednesday it wants attorneys to address whether petitions used to collect signatures had the correct type size. If not, the justices want to hear whether "substantial compliance" is good enough to get the referendum on the fall ballot. The emergency manager law allows the governor to appoint people to run poor cities and school districts. Managers have authority to cut spending, sell assets and tear up contracts. Critics have turned in enough signatures to put the law up for a vote, but the law's supporters say the petitions are faulty. Supreme Court arguments are set for July 25. Published: Fri, Jul 13, 2012