Judge Orders SOS, House To Work Out Training Materials Issue

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/23/2025) Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and House Republican leadership were ordered to work out their disagreement over the release of election training materials through a mediation-like process.

Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay), who subpoenaed the documents in April, called Judge Sima Patel’s decision “a good step toward achieving the transparency we’ve been trying tirelessly to bring to Michigan government all year.

“Our subpoenas are lawful and well within our prerogative – and our duty to the public – as the people’s representatives,” added DeBoyer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee. “Now, the Michigan Court of Claims is helping us get closer to the truth, despite Jocelyn Benson’s best efforts to evade accountability.”

Michigan Court of Appeals Judge James Robert Redford, who also serves on the Court of Claims, will mediate with the parties to discuss which election records, if any, can be held back.

Angela Benander, a spokesperson with the Department of State, called the independent third-party mediator “an appropriate way to resolve the questions about disclosure of confidential election security-related information.”

Benander noted: “That’s why the Secretary formally proposed such an agreement with the House Oversight Committee Chair on May 22. We are glad the court agrees. We look forward to meeting with Judge Redford and the House counsel to find the right balance between the need for transparency and the need to protect the security of our elections.”

The Attorney General’s office confirmed Patel ordered facilitation, noting that the judge also took the House’s motion for summary disposition under advisement. The parties “now await instruction from the Court on procedures moving forward,” AG Press Secretary Dany Wimmer said.

In April, DeBoyer issued subpoena to Benson seeking the “current full, complete, and unredacted training materials used to train Michigan clerks and their staffs on Michigan elections, including but not limited to, all of the materials found in the Department of State’s eLearning Center.”

The SOS released some documents, but withheld other documents as well as redacted some.

That move led DeBoyer and Speaker Pro Tem Rachelle Smit (R-Shelbyville) to seek a private meeting to discuss the SOS’ decision.

In early June, the House filed its lawsuit seeking to hold Benson in civil contempt for her refusal to hand over the materials.

At issue is the Republicans' concerns that Benson is overstepping her authority with the directions she gives in these training materials. The Secretary of State's office is concerned that the release of the training documents will fall into the wrong hands and some unscrupulous person will concoct a way to mess around with election results.