Host: Deena Bosworth
Guests: Rep. Sarah Lightner and Samantha Gibson of MAC
Topics: Rep. Sarah Lightner, a former Jackson County commissioner and leading voice in the Republican majority in the Michigan House, recently joined Podcast 83 for a “Legislator Spotlight” to discuss court funding, the state budget and more.
Asked about her legislation to eliminate the current expiration for court authority to levy fees on defendants, Lightner said:
“This is nothing new, it's a fight we have to have every about two years, in regard to collecting costs from defendants. … And to eliminate that (authority) would be counterproductive … (T)o me, the courts are a pay-to-play. You know, you screw up, you should pay for it. I shouldn't have to pay for 100 percent of your stupidity.
“(S)o that's one issue of why I continue to do the costs. The other is, I mean, you ultimately have to provide judicial services to your constituency. And it's funny you bring up core funding. I actually had the (state court administrator) and legal counsel in my office for about an hour yesterday, going over some of this, and then talking about actually eliminating the sunset, because the current bill I have actually eliminates it rather than extending it, because to me, it's one thing that judges already have judicial discretion to get rid of it, right? For individuals. But I don't think it's necessary for us to continue to keep coming back every couple of years to the Legislature and ask, ‘Oh, can we keep collecting costs?’” Lightner continued.
“I think it's absolutely absurd that just because you're in a different region of the state, an arraignment would cost three times more than it does in Ingham County, or Jackson County, or Calhoun County.”
Lightner also discussed the magnitude of expected cuts in the state’s fiscal 2027 budget, which legislators will resume their work on after their spring break ends April 14.
See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606
Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org
