Casandra Morse-Bills

A lifelong Michigander. An experienced jurist. A committed constitutionalist dedicated to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of every citizen.

Two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court are on the ballot in November 2026. The court currently holds a 6–1 supermajority with only one justice nominated by the Republican Party. The decisions made by this court shape the rights, freedoms, and future of every Michigander — from property rights and business law to criminal justice and constitutional protections.

Our national and state Constitutions deliberately separate the power to make laws from the power to apply them. That structure exists for a reason — it preserves the right of the People to govern themselves through their elected representatives. When judges honor that boundary, they uphold the foundation of self-government. When they cross it, they undermine it. A judge who rewrites the law from the bench has forgotten a basic truth: we serve the public, the public does not answer to us. That said, faithful interpretation cuts both ways. Judges must also stand as a check against government overreach. When the actions of any branch exceed their constitutional limits or encroach on the rights guaranteed to the People, it is the duty of the judiciary to say so — guided always by the plain text of the United States and Michigan Constitutions. I believe every person who walks into a courtroom is entitled to the same standard of justice. A judge's ruling should rest on two things only: the law and the facts. Nothing else belongs on the scale.

I also believe that how we conduct ourselves in the courtroom matters. Disagreement is the reason people come to court — but disagreement does not require disrespect. Litigants, attorneys, and judges alike deserve to have their arguments heard and their dignity respected. A good judge sets that standard, not just by ruling fairly, but by treating every person in the courtroom with courtesy.

I believe every person who walks into a courtroom is entitled to the same standard of justice. A judge's ruling should rest on two things only: the law and the facts. Nothing else belongs on the scale.

Interpret and apply the law as written rather than reshaping it according to a judge's personal preferences.

• Keep judicial interpretation distinct from legislation.
• Respect the separation of powers.

Require courts to check government action that exceeds constitutional limits or infringes rights guaranteed by the United States or Michigan Constitution.

• Ground review in constitutional text.
• Protect individual rights from government overreach.

Apply the same standard of justice to every person and base judicial rulings only on the law and the facts.

• Exclude status, preference, or outside pressure from judicial decisions.

Set a courtroom standard in which litigants, attorneys, and judges have their arguments heard and their dignity respected.

• Pair fair rulings with courteous judicial conduct.

Served on the Michigan Judicial Council developing and implementing the state's first statewide judicial strategic plan.

• Address access, transparency, innovation, and court operations.