State - Supreme Court pushes 18 cases to January

LANSING (AP) -- The Michigan Supreme Court is postponing arguments in 18 cases until January when a new justice comes aboard and conservatives are back in the majority. There are criminal appeals, medical-malpractice claims, business litigation and personal-injury disputes. In 10 of the 18 cases, the court is hearing arguments to determine whether it should take an appeal of a lower court order. The cases were supposed to be argued in December but they wouldn't be resolved by the time Justice Alton Davis leaves the court on Jan. 1. Davis recently finished third in the five-candidate race for two seats. Justice Robert Young Jr. was re-elected and Wayne County Judge Mary Beth Kelly won a seat, putting Republicans in the majority, 4-3, next year. Published: Mon, Nov 22, 2010