Michigan Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh on Access to Justice

Michigan Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh joins Justice Speaks to discuss access to justice, judicial selection, problem-solving courts, and artificial intelligence. Part of Conversations with America’s Chief Justices, this episode explores how Michigan’s courts are responding to funding challenges, improving court forms, and helping people navigate the justice system. This episode is sponsored by Reconnect.

Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh’s Path to Michigan’s Supreme Court

Chief Justice Cavanagh was first elected to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2018 and selected by her colleagues in March 2025 as the Court’s Chief Justice. Her path to judicial leadership provides a starting point for exploring Michigan’s distinctive approach to selecting its highest court.

Supreme Court candidates are nominated by political parties but appear on the nonpartisan portion of the ballot without party identification. Chief Justice Cavanagh discussed the tension within that arrangement, expressing concerns about partisan nominations while supporting judicial elections as a way to maintain a connection between courts and the people they serve. The conversation also addressed differences between Supreme Court elections and elections for lower court judges, who serve six-year terms.

Leading Michigan’s Courts and Addressing Funding Challenges

The interview explored the responsibilities of leading Michigan’s judiciary. Although all Supreme Court justices share responsibility for court administration, the Chief Justice assumes additional duties involving personnel, policy, and relationships with the legislative and executive branches. These responsibilities require attention to the practical conditions affecting courts throughout the state.

Chief Justice Cavanagh identified court funding as a significant challenge. Michigan’s courts operate within a funding structure that relies on different sources and local funding arrangements, creating uneven resources and complicating statewide improvements. Staffing, services, and the ability to respond to community needs are all affected by those constraints.

Improving Access to Justice in Michigan

Access to justice was another central theme. For people navigating the courts without a lawyer, unfamiliar procedures and confusing paperwork can become substantial barriers. Chief Justice Cavanagh discussed Michigan’s work to redesign court forms, beginning with small claims forms, through an approach focused on the people who must understand and use them. The effort examines court processes from the user’s perspective and seeks to make participation more manageable.

Michigan’s Problem-Solving Courts and Tribal Court Partnerships

The conversation also highlighted Michigan’s experience with problem-solving courts, including drug courts, mental health courts, and veterans treatment courts. Chief Justice Cavanagh described these courts as saving lives while reducing costs to the justice system. Their work demonstrates the value of addressing underlying needs through treatment, services, and judicial accountability.

Chief Justice Cavanagh then discussed Michigan’s relationships with tribal courts and the importance of learning from different approaches to justice. The state’s 12 federally recognized tribes bring valuable perspectives to those discussions, including holistic approaches that consider the individual, family, and community. Collaboration creates opportunities for courts to learn from one another and improve their responses to the people they serve.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Michigan’s Courts

Artificial intelligence presents another set of opportunities and challenges. Chief Justice Cavanagh expressed concern about increased court filings and the potential use of fabricated evidence. At the same time, she recognized that AI could help people understand legal processes and obtain information, particularly when they lack representation. Courts will need to address these developments while protecting the reliability of proceedings.

Drawing on her work with the Conference of Chief Justices as its current first Vice President, Chief Justice Cavanagh also discussed issues facing courts nationally. Judicial security and preparing new lawyers for the practical demands of legal work are prominent concerns. Both affect the judiciary’s capacity to serve the public effectively.

Priorities for the Next Generation

Looking ahead, Chief Justice Cavanagh emphasized making courts more accessible, especially for self-represented litigants. She also discussed Michigan’s efforts to improve legal representation in child protective proceedings, where court decisions carry profound consequences for children and families.

Her advice to young lawyers and future judicial leaders was to seek varied experiences, understand the real-world consequences of legal decisions, and remain connected to the people affected by court rulings. That perspective ties together the conversation’s focus on accessible courts, responsive leadership, and the human impact of justice.

Justice Speaks thanks Chief Justice Cavanagh for sharing her experiences and vision for Michigan’s courts and thanks Reconnect for sponsoring this episode.