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 Urges Legislature to Support Modern Court Data System

Lansing, 9/28/00 -- Chief Justice Elizabeth A. Weaver today urged the Legislature to strengthen public safety in Michigan by supporting a statewide computer system to speed the transmission of important court data among courts and agencies responsible for law enforcement.

An automated court information system, computerizing and connecting the courts, would improve the ability of judges and law enforcement officials to respond to cases. It would make the court system more user friendly for citizens, the Chief Justice said.

"A search taking less than one-tenth of a second turns up over 90,000 web sites containing information about wolverines. But a judge sentencing an offender for drunk driving in a Michigan trial court cannot find out if the driver has charges pending in another court of our one court of justice. In all but a few jurisdictions, you cannot pay a traffic ticket on-line, or file or check on the status of a case," Chief Justice Weaver said.

The Chief Justice proposed a system based on a survey delivered to legislative offices describing how technology currently used by the courts can be linked across the state. The survey was conducted by the State Court Administrative Office, an arm of the Supreme Court responsible for trial court management.

Chief Justice Weaver commended the Legislature for its commitment to bring Michigan 's K-12 public school classrooms technologically up to date. "It is now the courts' turn," she said.

"For the court system to serve the people as they demand and expect, services and information must be available electronically," Chief Justice Weaver said.

"Every Chief Justice for 40 years has come before you and asked you to provide the Judicial branch with the same level of automation commonly in use in the commercial sector and the executive branch. I ask you, please, to let me be the last Chief Justice who needs to make this plea."

"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