A group called the Michigan Campaign Finance Network is pressuring lawmakers to take up a bill that would create a full public financing program for candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court. The increasing expense of nasty ad wars between candidates has raised concerns about judicial impartiality, and the conflict of interest created by donors later being involved in cases before the court.

The article cites a surprising statistic from the National Institute on Money in State Politics from a study in money in judicial races in the 90s (and judicial races have become ever greater magnets for money since):

The study found that in 86 percent of all cases heard by the Michigan Supreme Court, at least one campaign contributor was involved.

Sounds like its time for Michigan to join North Carolina and New Mexico in giving candidates a chance to run for office without inviting these conflicts of interest -- full public financing for judicial races.