Here's the official announcement:
Granholm Appoints Scott Hill-Kennedy Judge of 49th Circuit Court
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the appointment of Scott Hill-Kennedy as judge of the 49th Circuit Court which serves Mecosta and Osceola counties.
Mr. Hill-Kennedy, of Big Rapids, most recently served as chief governmental relations and legal officer for Ferris State University, having served the university for over 13 years.
And here's the local reaction. It is particularly distressing in the event that the key anti-water piracy ruling of the judge's predecessor is remanded by the State Appeals Court to this new "jurist."
This person, Scott Hill-Kennedy, is a hard core Republican, pro-Nestle (publicly lauded Nestle for the jobs and money coming into this area), anti-union and in general was a destroyer of any person that got in his way when he was at FSU.
Will be searching for any on-the-record comments by the appointee.
UPDATE: RECUSE THYSELF
Here's a comment the new judge made after Nestle lost its case in the very court to which he is now appointed:
“This is an economic emergency for our region. We sincerely hope this is a temporary setback, and the issue will be resolved in an expedient and positive way,” said Mecosta County Development Corporation President Scott Hill-Kennedy. “This ruling, and its potential impacts are of major concern to Mecosta County, and certainly to the families whose lives depend on the jobs provided by Ice Mountain.”
http://www.bottledwaterweb.com/news/nw_120803.html
Posted by Dave at April 29, 2005 11:44 AM