Downsizing Imminent for Brighton District Court Downsizing Imminent for Brighton District Court

12/6/13 - After the arrival of the new year on January 1, the Brighton District Court will be but a shadow of its current self. At Thursday night’s City Council meeting, Livingston County District Court Administrator Debra Kubitskey provided council with a rundown on the changes that will take place. She says originally the plan was to eliminate the magistrate and all except civil cases, and consolidate all court procedures at 53rd District Court in Howell. However, there was a change in plans at the last minute and the result is that Magistrate Jay Drick will hear traffic cases in Brighton on Wednesday afternoons, the same as he does now. Judge Theresa Brennan, who was also present at the meeting, told council that as of Jan. 1 she will only hear civil cases in the Brighton District Court, and the criminal cases she is assigned will be heard at 53rd District Court in Howell, the county seat. The Brighton court will also lose its three-person clerical staff, which will be reassigned to the Howell court. Some council members objected to the changes, saying they could envision no cost savings for the county, adding that it will be more difficult for Brighton City Police officers to make court dates in Howell, given the fact that Brighton has such a small police department. The Brighton District Court also has jurisdiction over cases in Hamburg, Green Oak and Brighton townships, and the changes will mean more travel time and expense for police officers in those townships. That includes Michigan State Police, whose only Livingston County post is in Brighton Township. Kubitskey told council that the state legislature and court administrator’s office has been urging the local courts to consolidate more to increase efficiency and ideally, to save costs. Council acknowledged there was little or nothing they could do to prevent the court system from severely reducing the procedures that will take place in the Brighton District Court. However, most members said they were not in favor of downsizing the local court, which is located next to city hall. (TT)