Judge blocks Detroit Financial Review team; Decision could force Emergency Manager appointment

DETROIT (WXYZ) - A judge has blocked the Detroit Financial Review team from meeting. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's spokesperson says the ruling could end up forcing Snyder to appoint an Emergency Manager.

Ingham County Judge Joyce Draganchuck issued a temporary restraining order barring the Detroit Financial Review team from meeting on Monday afternoon. The review team had been scheduled to meet Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

The Department of the Treasury has now issued a statement saying the meeting has been canceled.

Political activist Robert Davis tells 7 Action News that the ruling came in a case where he is challenging the right of the review team to meet because their term has run out.

Davis has been challenging the review team process in court.

Governor Rick Snyder's spokesperson Geralyn Lasher says that if the review team cannot meet to vote and approve the Financial Stability Agreement that is currently being considered, Governor Snyder would only have two options: appoint an Emergency Manager or declare that Detroit is not under severe financial stress.

Governor Snyder has until Thursday to make a decision.

Davis was previously successful in getting the Highland Park schools review team process thrown out for violating the state's open meetings act.

The review team then met in public to redo the examination of that school district's finances. Governor Snyder then re-appointed an Emergency Manager for the district.