MARQUETTE — House Bill 4656, introduced by state Rep. Sara Cambensy, D-Marquette, to restore a second judge to the 25th Circuit Court in Marquette County, is being sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk to sign, according to a news release from Cambensy’s office.

The House passed the bill by a vote of 104-5, and the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 34-1, the release states. The county is currently served by only one circuit court judge after a second position was eliminated in 2017.

“This process is a great example of how U.P. legislators work together to get something done for the people and communities we represent,” Cambensy said in the release. “Sen. (Ed) McBroom and I worked hard to make our case to our colleagues on why the reinstatement of this judgeship was so important. I’m grateful for their overwhelming support in both the House and Senate, and I look forward to the governor signing the bill soon.”

State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, cited “strong local support from the legal community” and has received letters from numerous officials backing the legislation, including 25th Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Mazzuchi, the release states.

“I am pleased to have this issue nearing completion and would like to thank the locals for all their work getting to this point,” McBroom said in the release. “Having another judge will be helpful for veterans’ issues and other cases to be addressed more expediently.”

Marquette County court cases make up around 25% of the annual U.P. court caseload. The average annual number of felony cases alone in the county has more than doubled over the last decade, largely due to an increase in methamphetamine abuse, according to the release.

Cambensy and McBroom are “hopeful another judgeship will allow a greater focus on drug-related cases that will allow the entire court system to use a more holistic approach to deal with substance abuse problems to try to end the revolving door syndrome,” officials said in the release.

Due to the lapse in time when Marquette County lost a circuit court position with the retirement of Judge Thomas Solka in 2017, officials said the reinstatement is considered a new judgeship and will be subject to the election process rather than be appointed by the governor.

If HB 4656 is signed into law, the Marquette County Board of Commissioners will determine when the election for the new judgeship will be held.