Continuing our coverage of Michigan’s Supreme Court race, Cyndy Canty spoke with candidate Bridget Mary McCormack.
McCormack is the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Michigan’s Law School and is also a Clinical Professor of Law.
“I am really committed to the important, independent role the Court plays in our constitutional democracy,” said McCormack.
One of the Supreme Court’s primary functions, says McCormack, is attending to its surrounding community.
“We are providing a legal service to the community,” says McCormack.
When asked about her view of a Supreme Court Justice’s role, McCormack evaluated partisanship and its impact on the Court’s progress.
“Together, the court’s role is to apply the law set by the political branches of government, to provide stability and promise equal treatment to all our citizens. I think that works best when partisanship and politics have no role in the way the courts work.”
How does McCormack feel Justices can stay clear of partisan leanings with reelections constantly looming over their heads?
“I think the system is flawed and there needs to be change. The partisan nomination process does not help us produce the court we deserve. I also think they don’t help with the public confidence issue. The second reform area should be where the races are funded. There was more money spent in the Michigan Supreme Court Race in 2010 than any other state’s Supreme Court Race in history. The funders of a lot of that money were not identified. When folks are spending that kind of money, they are spending it because they think they are buying something.”
McCormack again returned to her hope that the line be blurred between parties, enabling a more efficient system that would better serve its citizens.
“I really want to see more unanimous decisions,” said McCormack.
Would there be any issues on which she would recuse herself?
“Any cases coming out of the clinical programs at the University of Michigan Law School.”
However, regardless of one’s political views, McCormack stressed the importance of simply going out and voting. To do so, McCormack feels, increases the productivity and clarity of the Supreme Court.
“I believe that more participation, more voting the better the court will be,” she concluded.
-Cameron Stewart
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