About Justice Weaver

Throughout Justice Elizabeth "Betty" Weaver's over 32 years of experience as a trial and appellate judge (Probate/Juvenile, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court), including 2 years as Chief Justice, she has maintained a proven record based on these major practices:
Exercising Judicial Restraint
Applying Common Sense

A fundamental tenet of her stand for jusitice is to hold wrong-doers accountable and responsible for their actions, while providing opportunities for them to discover and develop their own self-worth and to become law-abiding, productive citizens.

In exercising judicial restraint (interpreting, not making, the law -- judicial self-discipline), Justice Weaver has followed the law as constitutionally passed by the legislature and consistent with the rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court. She has used the responsibility of interpretation, not as a sword to superimpose her own personal views (or those of special interest groups) on the law, but as a shield to protect the constitutional rights of the people and the constitutional acts of the legislative and executive branches.

Click here to read Michigan Court of Appeals Judge, Donald S. Owens’s Remarks as Presenter at the Induction of Justice Weaver into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame on October 25, 2005.

Click here to read Justice Weaver’s Remarks upon her Induction into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.

Press Release - 6/10/2005

Press Release - 1/13/2005

In November 2002, Justice Weaver won re-election for a second 8-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court.
This site provides information about her experience, credentials, principles, and major initiatives for the State of Michigan.

Check this site often for up-to-date press releases and other information about important work going on in the Supreme Court of Michigan.

Chief Justice Weaver's State of the Judiciary Message 9/28/00
Continued

I do not tell you this story to take public revenge on my brother, who has turned out to be caring and successful (no, he is not a lawyer -- he's a chemical engineer). I tell you this story because it was my earliest lesson in the value of separation of powers, of due process, and of the rule of law. I was only a child, but my sense of outrage and injustice at the way things were run in the State of Tulane was immense, and obviously unforgettable.

Collectively you in this room represent a great wealth of public experience, knowledge, and talent, which you use to serve the people of Michigan. But each of you also has had experiences early in your life similar to mine, where something personally unfair happened, and there was no rule of law readily available to correct the injustice. I ask you to remember that time today to help make this State of the Judiciary message as real and urgent as my experience in the State of Tulane.

The foundation of our legal system is our love of justice, and Michigan has built wisely upon it. Early in our statehood, we secured the distinction of having the finest Supreme Court in the land with a succession of brilliant justices. Later, Michigan became a national leader in court management.

‰ It was first in the nation to designate in its constitution a State Court Administrator.
‰ It was first in the nation to establish a judicial training center, our Michigan Judicial Institute, a national leader in judicial and court-related education.

In fact, we have been first, or among the first, in almost every important court management improvement of the 20th century, including discipline, anti-bias initiatives, and caseflow management. If there ever was a National Championship of Court Administration, an NCCA, the Michigan judiciary (like our great universities) would be a serious contender every year!

The goal has always been to provide fair, impartial, unbiased, efficient, and effective justice to all citizens of Michigan. In this arena, the Supreme Court must lead by example. Here is what we have done.

‰ We outpaced our caseload for the first eight months of this year, continuing a trend begun two years ago. In 1999 we disposed of nearly 2,600 cases or over 300 more than were filed. Our backlog now stands at only 270 cases, down from over 1,100 at this time in 1995.

‰ We decided our cases well within the time guidelines recommended for state supreme courts by the American Bar Association. The ABA standards call for 50 percent of cases to be decided within 290 days of the date they are filed. Last year we met this deadline in 81 percent of the cases, and this year our performance is even better, at 87 percent. And although much is sometimes made of the cases in which the Justices disagree, it is important to note how often we are in agreement: 87 percent of the dispositions this year were decided unanimously.

(continued)

"What we in the judiciary most need is patience, meekness, compassion, and courage to 'Do Right and Fear Not.'"
Chief Justice Weaver
State of the Judiciary

"She is bringing a fresh, dedicated, incisive mind to the Michigan Supreme Court."
Judge Myron Wahls
Court of Appeals

"I know Betty Weaver. She threw me in jail....But I would vote for her, because she...straightened me out, and the sentence was just."
Former convicted juvenile offender

"Your judicial experience...was outstanding. Your leadership abilities...have been impressive. There is sound reasoning for my full confidence in you as a justice."
Mary S. Coleman
Chief Justice 1978-82

Judge Weaver has been recognized in many ways for her public service, including selection as one of five outstanding young women in Michigan by the Michigan Jaycees. It is a pleasure for myself to recognize Judge Weaver as a capable and devoted public servant.
G. Mennen Williams
Chief Justice 1982-86