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

Now, I must ask your help in meeting the needs of another at-risk population: citizens for whom guardians and conservators have been appointed. They include children whose parents cannot care for them or who need someone to manage their money. They also include adults (especially with our rapidly growing senior population), who are no longer able to care for themselves or manage their money on their own.

Those who are appointed by our probate courts as guardians and conservators should be wise, compassionate, and caring. They should possess excellent money management skills. They must be honest. Fortunately, most fit this description and work hard, for little or no compensation.

Some, however, abuse the trust we place in them. They neglect their wards. They mismanage, and sometimes even steal, their wards' money or property. There is, of course, no foolproof way to protect against all abuses of trust. Our probate courts do an admirable job with the limited resources they have.

But we can, and we must, do better. We must ensure three things:

First, that quality services are available to all who need them.

Second, that a guardianship or conservatorship is not imposed on any person who does not require it.

Third, that abuses of trust will be swiftly corrected.

What can we do to better protect these vulnerable people? At the state level, there is much we can, and will, be doing:

‰ Training all probate judges on the needs of the elderly.
‰ Providing information to help people better understand the guardianship system, alternatives to it, and available community resources.
‰ Developing more user friendly forms.
‰ Revising court rules to improve the process.
‰ Cooperating with a bi-partisan group led by Senator Bev Hammerstrom and aided by Senator George Hart in developing necessary legislation.

We on the Supreme Court want to do everything possible to strengthen our courts' ability to meet and deal with these challenges. That is why I am announcing today the appointment of Michigan's first Guardianship Ombudsman. The Ombudsman will be charged with enabling our system to provide better protection for those who have guardians and conservators, and investigating complaints of suspected neglect or abuse, either physical or financial.

To accomplish the first goal, the Ombudsman, building on the work of the Court's Guardianship Task Force, will:

‰ Diagnose and advise on systemic problems.
‰ Explore the development of local volunteer services.
‰ Suggest further necessary legislative or court rule changes.
‰ Give guidance to local courts in how to detect and prevent abuses.

(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