City of Detroit v. Rabaut

The City of Detroit, pursuant to its long standing practice, brought proceedings in Recorder’s Court for the City of Detroit to condemn certain real property in that city.

The defendants moved to dismiss the proceedings on the grounds that recorder’s court had no jurisdiction to try condemnation cases, and the trial judge granted their motion.

We granted leave to appeal prior to decision by the Court of Appeals because we are persuaded that the question of whether recorder’s court has jurisdiction to try condemnation cases is of considerable importance and urgency.

The Constitution of 1963…