Cavanagh now officially Michigan’s chief justice after Clement departs

Megan Cavanagh is now officially the chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.

One day after former Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement’s departure, on Tuesday, Chief Justice Cavanagh began her tenure heading up the state’s highest court.

Clement announced in February that she was leaving the court no later than April 30 to become president of the Virginia-based National Center for State Courts, a nonprofit that provides assistance and resources to courts both nationally and around the world.

Cavanagh, who was selected by her fellow jurists last month to take over the role, was first elected to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2018 after being nominated by the Democratic Party. She serves as the court’s liaison on child welfare issues, tribal courts and as chair of the Commission on Well-Being in the Law among her other administrative responsibilities. Cavanagh previously served as co-lead on the Child Protective Legal Representation Task Force.

Clement’s departure will give Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, the opportunity to appoint someone to fill the remainder of the term, which runs through 2026.

Although state Supreme Court candidates appear on the nonpartisan section of the ballot, state parties nominate candidates to run for the position. 

Clement was appointed by former Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, in November 2017 and ran for a full eight-year term after being nominated by Republicans in 2018. 

Her departure will shift the court from a 5-2 Democratic-nominated majority to a 6-1 majority, with Justice Brian Zahra as the lone Republican-nominated jurist on the court. His term runs through 2030, at which point he will be 70 and ineligible to run again.

It’s not known when Whitmer will announce her pick to succeed Clement, but until she does the court will operate with just six justices.