Megan Cavanagh
Non-Partisan | Michigan
Candidate Profile*
Proven Activist
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
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WORK & MILITARY
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AFFILIATIONS
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POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
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POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
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ENDORSEMENTS*
LIBERAL (27)
Emily's List
United Auto Workers UAW
Michigan AFL-CIO
American Federation of Teachers AFT Michigan
Eric Holder
OTHER (2)
Small Business Association of Michigan Small Biz PAC
Michigan Realtors PAC RPAC
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
State Democratic Party Organizations (2026)
Jody LaMacchia (2020)
Dana Nessel (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (19)
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (2019)
College Democrats of America (2019)
National Education Association (national, state & local affiliates) (2019)
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (2019)
American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (2018)
OTHER INFORMATION
In Carter v. DTN Management Co. (2024), in which Justice Cavanagh joined the majority, the Michigan Supreme Court held that its COVID-19 orders temporarily extending court filing deadlines were constitutional. The case involved a woman who sued her apartment complex after falling on an icy sidewalk. She filed her lawsuit more than three years after the injury, but within the extended deadline created by the Court during the pandemic. The Court held that it had constitutional authority to change how filing deadlines were calculated during the emergency. The ruling allowed Carter’s lawsuit to proceed, and confirmed that the Court could temporarily extend filing deadlines during the COVID-19 emergency.
In Rouch World, LLC v. Department of Civil Rights (2022), in which Justice Cavanagh joined the majority, the Michigan Supreme Court held that the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. The case arose after a business refused to host a same-sex wedding, claiming religious objections. The Court held that discrimination based on sexual orientation is necessarily discrimination “because of sex” under the ELCRA and overruled an earlier case that reached the opposite conclusion.
In Reproductive Freedom for All v. Board of State Canvassers (2022), in which Justice Cavanagh joined the majority, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Proposal 3 could be placed on the November 2022 ballot. Proposal 3 would amend the Michigan Constitution to establish a constitutional right to abortion, among other related provisions. Opponents argued the proposal was invalid because some words in the petition were not separated by spaces. The Court rejected the challenge, finding that all the words were included and understandable. The decision allowed voters to decide whether to adopt the amendment. Voters later approved it, adding a constitutional right to abortion, among other provisions, to Michigan’s Constitution.
In People v. Stovall (2022), in which Justice Cavanagh joined the majority, the Michigan Supreme Court held that a life sentence with the possibility of parole for a person who committed second-degree murder as a juvenile was unconstitutional under Michigan’s ban on “cruel or unusual” punishment. Stovall had received the sentence after killing two people as a juvenile. The Court found the sentence too severe because it did not adequately account for the differences between juveniles and adults or give enough weight to rehabilitation. The decision vacated Stovall’s life sentence and required resentencing. It also established that Michigan’s Constitution provides broader protection against excessive punishment than the federal Constitution under these circumstances .
In League of Women Voters of Michigan v. Secretary of State (2022), in which Justice Cavanagh wrote the majority opinion, the Michigan Supreme Court struck down two rules governing petitions for proposed laws and constitutional amendments. One rule limited the number of signatures that could come from a single congressional district, and another required paid petition circulators to file an affidavit. The Court found both rules unconstitutional. It upheld a separate rule requiring petition circulators to disclose whether they were paid.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Was Dobbs v. Jackson rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: In Dobbs, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the federal constitution does not confer a right to abortion.)
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Does the federal Constitution support the right to physician assisted suicide? Please explain in light of Washington v. Glucksberg (1997).
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Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
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How do you view the judiciary’s role in matters of abortion regulation following Dobbs?
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RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Do you believe religious liberty is at risk in the United States. If so, what is the judiciary's proper role in addressing this issue?
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Does the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment require government to be strictly secular or does it allow for the nation's religious heritage?
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Was Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held tha the state may not show religious hostility when enforcing anti-discrimination laws against a business owner.)
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VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
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What is your understanding of parental rights under the Constitution regarding the upbringing of children, particularly regarding choices about education and sexual identity?
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Is gender identity a protected class under the Constitution? Please explain the constitutional basis for your view.
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ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
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Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
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I voted in these primaries and general elections:
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JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
Describe your judicial philosophy.
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Do you believe judges should primarily apply the law according to its original public meaning, or do you believe the law evolves over time to reflect contemporary values?
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Which current or past U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
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Was Obergefell v. Hodges rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses create a right for same-sex couples to marry.)
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A. How should a judge approach a case where the constitutional or statutory text is clear on its face? B. Conversely, how should a judge proceed when the text is ambiguous or silent on a disputed issue?
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What is your view of judicial restraint versus judicial activism? How do you define each?
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What is the proper role of a judge?
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When applying or interpreting the text of a statute or constitutional provision, is it ever proper for a judge to consider present day public opinion or consequences?
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If precedent departs from the Constitution’s text or original meaning, should a judge follow it or correct the error? Please explain.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
The burden of proof in a criminal case is generally that the state must provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Some say the reason the burden of proof is so high is because we greatly value ensuring that the innocent are not unjustly imprisoned. Please comment on this topic.
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When reviewing wrongful conviction claims, what role, if any, should judges play in determining remedies?
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2ND AMENDMENT
What is your understanding of the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms?
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OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Which branch of government do you believe was intended to wield the most authority?
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