LANSING -- A second lower-court judge in the past month has publicly questioned the impartiality of Michigan's eternally-bickering Supreme Court.

Respected Sixth Circuit Probate Judge Eugene A. Moore of Oakland County yesterday called for new rules governing the state's Supreme Court in an opinion piece published yesterday. He argued the changes would address public concerns over the court's apparent lack of impartiality and transparency.

Last month Judge William Whitbeck expressed fears that the public perceived the Supreme Court as voting in politically-allied "blocks," LNL reported. The Justices have been sniping at each other in written opinions for several years.

Moore proposes tighter rules on Justices recusing themselves and looser restrictions on published minority opinions. "Only with openness and proper rules of refusal with no appearance of impropriety will the public maintain this confidence in our judiciary," his piece concluded.