The Gov and the AG
Last year, we advocated for a constitutional amendment to make the office of Attorney General one which is appointed by the Governor rather than an elective one. This idea was spurred by the charges made against then-candidate Jennifer Granholm by her fellow Democrats that she had, in her position as Attorney General, betrayed Democratic positions by filing briefs and taking positions as requested by then-Gov. John Engler.
Yesterday, Gongwer reported that Mike Cox, current AG, has simply declined a request by Gov. Granholm that he file an amicus brief supporting the University's position in the University of Michigan affirmative action case pending in the Supreme Court. Cox's given reason: an amicus filing is unnecessary because all of the issues have already been raised. Granholm, it is reported, will make the filing with her own in-house legal staff.
This is a ridiculous position for the Governor to be put in. Even though she is wrong on the merits, she is the Governor and she gets to make these decisions. This episode underscores the fact that, in order to maintain political and legal consistency, the office of AG should be a governor-appointed cabinet position, and should no longer be elected.
Update: New Dem chair Butch Hollowell is calling for Cox to resign.
7:12:48 AM 
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