Granholm selling Judicial appointments???

Saul Anuzis lets the cat out of the bag.

Granholm selling Judicial appointments???
MIRS Capitol Capsule, Monday, April 3, 2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"If this is the case, then the Governor should simply list these judicial positions on eBay and let the highest bidder be appointed.”

— Former State Supreme Court Justice candidate Martin BRENNAN on his belief that Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM hands out appointments based on political contributions.

Brennan: Granholm For Sale
A former Democratic-nominated Supreme Court justice candidate, J. Martin BRENNAN said Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM is living in a "parallel universe inhabited by moneyed sycophants," that she's so obsessed with money and competing with Dick DeVOS that it's guiding her decision-making.

Brennan said he believes he has been a team player for the state Democratic Party, but when he ran for the Court of Appeals in 2002, he asked for a Granholm endorsement and the request was denied.

When he secured the party's nod for the State Supreme Court in 2002, he complained he and Judge Maggie DRAKE "were treated like the proverbial red-headed step-children by the governor and her entourage."

More recently, this year, he applied for a vacancy to replace Judge Hilda GAGE, but, despite an endorsement from the Justice Caucus of the State Democratic Party and the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, he was rejected.

Brennan concluded Granholm and her husband are "nothing but Harvard elitists who profess to support the working class, but are truly clueless as they continue to pursue those with deep pockets to support another campaign."

He said there are rumors that "people who either heavily contributed to the governor's campaign or would contribute significantly to the upcoming campaign would be provided with the appointment."

"If this is the case," he went on, "Then the governor should simply list these judicial positions on eBay and let the highest bidder be appointed."

Brennan described the governor as being "self-centered, mercenary and hypocritical."

The reference appeared to be toward Granholm's alleged consideration of Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Deborah TYNER for the Gage position. Tyner had given Granholm and her leadership fund $2,000 over the past two years. The Tyner family has been active in campaign fundraising circles. Tyner didn't get the position after a TV reporter found that Tyner spent her afternoons at the spa, the mall or the gym, as opposed to the courthouse.

The governor's office said it bases its judicial appointments on the recommendations from the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Qualifications Panel, which evaluates the fitness of candidates to serve and "We have not appointed anyone who hasn't met those qualifications."

Which, of course, is a polite way of saying Mr. Brennan did not measure up.

As for the allegation about buying nominations, the governor's office said, "That is absolutely not true."