Supreme Court Cases Include Former Senator’s Plea Deal

Liz Gullett

Jan 05, 2018

The Michigan Supreme Court released their list of oral arguments for January 2018. Included on that list is the case of former State Senator Virgil Smith, who as part of plea deal for domestic violence charges, resigned from office and agreed to not hold an elected office for five years. However, the courts ruled that provision violated the separation of powers. The former senator ran in the primary for Detroit City Council in 2017, finishing second, which allowed him to move forward to the general election. Following the primary election results, the prosecutor once again took this issue back to the courts. This month, the Justices will hear arguments as to whether that portion of the plea deal violated the separation of powers, among a few other questions dealing with the process.

For more information on the additional oral arguments the Court will hear this month and to find information to view the livestream, please click here.

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