Bath Charter Township v. Clinton County

Plaintiffs, Bath Charter Township and DeWitt Charter Township, brought suit against defendant, Clinton County, seeking a declaratory judgment on the county’s obligation to pay witness fees to township police officers appearing as witnesses for the prosecution in criminal matters.1 As the issue presented was purely a legal question of statutory construction, no hearing was held. In an opinion and order filed on December 30, 1986, the circuit court held that police officers paid by their employer for court appearances are "on duty” for purposes of MCL 775.13(2); MSA 28.1250(2) and are therefore…