Chief Justice of Saginaw Valley

The Chief Justice of Saginaw Valley is the chief judge on the Supreme Court of Saginaw Valley. The current chief justice is Michael Westendorf.

The chief justice is appointed by the other members of the court, with the advice of the Student Association President, in a secret-ballot vote. The office essentially enjoys a life tenure, as the court's constitution says that members of the court "shall serve until resignation, removal, or death."

The chief justice is responsible for presiding over the question-and-answer sessions of the court (oral arguments) as well as assigning opinions of the court between the Justices. The chief justice is one of five justices; the other four have the title Associate Justice.

The Constitution of the Supreme Court of Saginaw Valley explicitly establishes the office of chief justice in Article II, Section 1: "The Supreme Court of Saginaw Valley shall be comprised of four (4) Associate Justices and one (1) Chief Justice of Saginaw Valley."

Despite the chief justice's elevated stature, his vote carries the same legal weight as the vote of each associate justice. Additionally, the chief justice has no legal authority to overrule the verdicts or interpretations of the other four Members or tamper with them.

Question-and-Answer Sessions
The Chief Justice of Saginaw Valley presides over question-and-answer sessions of the court. Question-and-answer sessions serve as the time for parties of cases to present their legal arguments to the justices. The sessions are granted by right to the petitioner, plaintiff, defendant, and amici in each case. In every case thus far in the court's history, no party has requested a question-and-answer session.

Conference and Assigning Opinions
Upon the grant of a petition or the certification of a question, and each party or amici having the chance to speak on the matter, a case is submitted for Conference. The Conference is the formal meeting of the court on each case and is held in secret. There, the Justices discuss and vote on the case. Cases are decided by majority vote of the Justices. After the vote, The chief justice assigns the opinions of the court between the justices, even if he is not in the majority. Opinions of the court serve as the ruling voice of the court on a particular case. In each case, each justice may publish a concurring or dissenting opinion, by right.

Vacancies
The chief justice is responsible for contacting the Student Association President in the case of a vacancy on the court. He must deliver a physical letter via U.S. mail, per the court's rules of procedure, and solicit the advice of the president. The chief justice also presides over the secret ballot vote to fill an associate justice vacancy on the Court.