On October 9, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Robert Redford expedited two similar cases that seek to bar former President Donald Trump from appearing on the February 27, 2024 Republican presidential primary ballot. The cases are Davis v Benson, 23-000128, filed on September 15; and Free Speech for People v Benson, 23-000137, filed October 2. They are being heard together.

Judge Redford is a Michigan State Appeals Court judge, and he also is one of the judges on the Court of Claims, which is a special court that only hears lawsuits against the Michigan state government. Judge Redford ordered the state to file its brief by October 16.

One of the lawsuits, Davis v Benson, also argues that the February 27 date for the Michigan presidential primaries is not legal, because the bill that passed moving the primaries to that date had not taken effect until a date later than February 27. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the case numbers.