Order Michigan Supreme Court
Lansing, Michigan
November 2, 2011 Robert P. Young, Jr.,
Chief Justice
143563 Michael F. Cavanagh
Marilyn Kelly
Stephen J. Markman
Diane M. Hathaway
Mary Beth Kelly
IN RE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE OF THE Brian K. Zahra,
GOVERNOR Justices
(BROWN et al. v RICHARD D. SNYDER, SC: 143563
GOVERNOR, and ANDREW DILLON,
TREASURER)
_________________________________________
The Executive Message of the Governor pursuant to MCR 7.305(A) was received
on August 12, 2011, requesting that this Court direct the Ingham Circuit Court to certify
certain questions for immediate determination by this Court. In lieu of acting on the
Governor’s request at this time, we DIRECT the plaintiffs and the defendants to file with
this Court by December 14, 2011, briefs, including a statement of facts, in support of
their positions on the questions posed by the Executive Message of the Governor. The
parties shall address:
(1) whether the requirements of MCR 7.305(A) have been met;
(2) whether the urgency of the request under MCR 7.305(A) is mitigated by MCR
7.302(B)(4)(b), which allows a party to request this Court to bypass review by the Court
of Appeals after “a ruling that a provision of . . . a Michigan statute . . . is invalid”;
(3) whether 2011 PA 4 violates Const 1963, art 3, § 2 (separation of powers), or
art 4, § 1 (legislative power), in its authorization of an emergency manager;
(4) whether 2011 PA 4 violates Const 1963, art 4, § 29 (local or special acts) by
permitting an emergency manager to exercise powers of a local governmental unit;
(5) whether 2011 PA 4 violates Const 1963, art 7, § 22 (charters, resolutions,
ordinances, enumeration of powers) by allowing an emergency manager to exercise
powers of a local governmental unit;
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(6) whether 2011 PA 4 violates due process rights set forth in Const 1963, art 1,
§ 17, or violates any right that is retained in Const 1963, art 1, § 23, by allowing an
emergency manager to assume the power and authority of a local governmental unit;
(7) whether 2011 PA 4 violates Const 1963, art 7, §§ 21, 22, and 34 (provisions
for local government) by allowing an emergency manager to assume the power and
authority of a local governmental unit;
(8) whether 2011 PA 4 violates Const 1963, art 9, § 29 (Headlee Amendment) by
requiring the local government for which the emergency manager is appointed to pay for
certain costs associated with the emergency manager.
The Executive Message remains under consideration.
I, Corbin R. Davis, Clerk of the Michigan Supreme Court, certify that the
foregoing is a true and complete copy of the order entered at the direction of the Court.
November 2, 2011 _________________________________________
t1026 Clerk