EDWARDSBURG — Court of Appeals Judge Jane E. Markey, who unsuccessfully sought a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court, said the judiciary matters because of the impact felt day in and day out from decisions the state’s two highest courts make.

Constitutionally comprised of 28 judges, the Court of Appeals currently has 26 after the loss of “two very strong conservatives.”

“Ninety-seven percent of all matters decided in this state are decided by the Michigan Court of Appeals,” Markey told Cass County Republicans Saturday night at their Lincoln Day dinner in Edwardsburg, “and therefore become the law of the land until the seven-member Michigan Supreme Court, which we call the 800-pound gorilla, decides to take a case and clarify it.”

As a conservative Republican, “It’s my job to follow the law, not to legislate.”

She apprised Lt. Gov. Brian Calley that the state Court of Appeals is a “lean, green legal machine. By that I mean it’s run so efficiently. We are stewards of the resources of this state.

We’re taxpayers, we recycle, we do everything we can to save taxpayer money. We’re more than willing to continue on with 26 judges, 24 judges or whatever you and Gov. Snyder decide is appropriate to get the job done. That’s the consensus of the judges on the Court of Appeals. We are more than willing to do our part to do what needs to be done.

“As voters, we must be vigilant about who is up for election and is re-elected. Jennifer Granholm appointed seven of the judges on our court. In 2012, Justice Marilyn Kelly will not be running (after serving two eight-year terms), so we will have three nominees (in addition to Stephen J. Markman and Brian K. Zahra). I hope it doesn’t sound greedy, because we hold a 4-3 majority right now on the Michigan Supreme Court. I know Chief Justice (Robert P.) Young (Jr.) would like to have a five-person comfort zone. The judiciary matters to those who care about the law being followed appropriately,” said Markey, who was accompanied from Grand Rapids by her husband.

The former district judge was elected to the Court of Appeals in 1994. Her term expires Jan. 1, 2015. She graduated from Michigan State University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School.