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The Detroit Journalism Cooperative is an integrated community media network providing insight on the issues facing Detroit. It features two radio stations, an online magazine, five ethnic newspapers, and a public television station-- All working together to tell the story of Detroit.The DJC includes Michigan Radio, Bridge Magazine, Detroit Public Television, WDET, and New Michigan Media. To see all the stories produced for the DJC, visit The Intersection website.Scroll below to see DJC stories from Michigan Radio and other selected stories from our partners.

Judge rules that his Detroit bankruptcy finding can be directly appealed

DPS emergency manager Steven Rhodes.
John Meiu
/
Detroit Legal News Publishing LLC

The judge in Detroit’s bankruptcy case says creditors can appeal his recent eligibility ruling directly to a higher federal court.

Judge Steven Rhodes ruled earlier this month that Detroit is eligible to proceed with its historic bankruptcy case.

He also ruled that city pensions can be cut in federal bankruptcy court — despite a public pension guarantee in Michigan’s state constitution.

City unions, pension funds and retiree groups immediately said they intended to appeal both decisions.

Now, Rhodes has ruled that both can be appealed directly to the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

City lawyers had argued against allowing an appeal now. They wanted Rhodes to wait until after he’d approved the city’s plan to restructure its billions of dollars of debt.

Creditors are also pushing for an expedited appeal.

But Judge Rhodes did not say whether he would recommend a fast-track ruling saying he needed more time to think over that issue.

Lawyers for the unions say other governments need quick clarification on the issue.

From the Associated Press:

Sharon Levine, an attorney for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said an immediate appeal is important because the union is concerned that Rhodes' decision could be applied in other states where governments are struggling. "This is an issue of national importance. ... We do think having these issues decided quickly would be constructive," she told the judge, referring to Detroit's eligibility for bankruptcy and the impact on pensions.

The appeal does not slow down the bankruptcy process. Detroit's emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, hopes to have his reorganization plan submitted to bankruptcy court by January.

Mark Brush was the station's Digital Media Director. He succumbed to a year-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018. He was 49 years old.
Sarah Cwiek joined Michigan Public in October 2009. As our Detroit reporter, she is helping us expand our coverage of the economy, politics, and culture in and around the city of Detroit.
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