Lawyers’ ‘barrage of personal attacks’ on opponents started with tissue-box toss, appeals court says

Updated: A federal appeals court saw a need for a civility lesson when it granted a new trial to a civil-fraud plaintiff because of a “barrage of personal attacks” made by opposing lawyers in a closing argument.

Mar 14, 2024 12:02 PM CDT

Lawyer mistakenly filed ‘verbatim copy’ of opponent’s brief, leading to loss for Romantics band member

A trial court did not abuse its discretion when it required a member of the rock band the Romantics to pay triple damages after his new attorney filed a “verbatim copy” of the opponent’s brief by mistake, the Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled.

Mar 5, 2024 8:20 AM CST

Mother of Oxford school shooter found guilty of involuntary manslaughter

Jennifer Crumbley, the 45-year-old mother of the Oxford High School shooter, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter by an Oakland County jury on Tuesday, after an emotional two-week trial that examined a parent’s culpability for their child’s deadly actions.

Feb 6, 2024 1:55 PM CST

‘Even judges are not immune to theft,’ state AG says in announcing charges against former court clerk

A former court clerk in Wayne County, Michigan, has been charged with embezzling more than $60,000 from the judge for whom he worked.

Jan 24, 2024 11:11 AM CST

‘Nuclear verdicts’ and ‘litigation tourism’ are partly why these state courts are top ‘judicial hellholes,’ report says

Courts in Georgia and Pennsylvania are named as top "judicial hellholes" for their friendliness to tort plaintiffs in a report by the American Tort Reform Foundation.

Dec 8, 2023 2:13 PM CST

Why did township lawyer blurt out ‘white power’ at meeting? He had no explanation

A Michigan lawyer who represented Mt. Morris Township since the 1990s has resigned after he raised his fist at a meeting and blurted out “white power.”

Dec 6, 2023 10:00 AM CST

Why Colorado judge kept Trump on ballot despite finding he engaged in insurrection

Former President Donald Trump isn’t an “officer of the United States” who can be banned from office under the 14th Amendment for engaging in “insurrection or rebellion” against the U.S. Constitution, a Colorado judge ruled Friday.

Nov 20, 2023 10:26 AM CST

Law grad turns culinary passion into TikTok fame and a brand-new cookbook

Like many others, Jon Kung figured that law school would be a safe harbor to weather the storms of the Great Recession. But after graduating in 2011, Kung changed course, becoming established in the Detroit culinary scene and hosting secret pop-up dinners.

Nov 8, 2023 8:20 AM CST

Evidentiary hearing begins in suit to block Trump from Colorado ballot under 14th Amendment

A weeklong evidentiary hearing begins Monday in Denver to determine whether former President Donald Trump should be banned from the ballot in Colorado for engaging in insurrection.

Oct 30, 2023 10:42 AM CDT

Was Ted Nugent country singer? 4th Circuit judges clueless

Two federal appeals judges confessed during oral arguments Tuesday that they weren’t familiar with a rock musician known for the 1977 song “Cat Scratch Fever.”

Oct 26, 2023 1:29 PM CDT

Michigan judges can’t disregard pronoun preferences of parties and lawyers, new rule says

The Michigan Supreme Court has adopted a new rule that bars judges from using pronouns that are inconsistent with the preferences of parties and lawyers.

Sep 28, 2023 3:26 PM CDT

If law schools prohibit ChatGPT in writing, can they back it up?

Using artificial intelligence to write admissions essays now comes with significant risks at the University of Michigan Law School, which recently asked applicants to certify that they did not use the technology for drafting purposes.

Aug 31, 2023 10:32 AM CDT

Ex-Trump officials target ‘woke’ companies for diversity efforts

Activision Blizzard Inc. and the Kellogg Co. are the latest companies hit by claims that their efforts to diversify their workforces constitute illegal discrimination.

Aug 22, 2023 8:14 AM CDT

Federal judge who said defendant ‘looks like a criminal’ can’t preside in new trial, 6th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has overturned a Michigan defendant’s drug convictions after a Detroit federal judge presiding in the case said the accused man “looks like a criminal to me.”

Aug 7, 2023 12:30 PM CDT

Was slap that left mark child abuse? Suspended judge who sought to hide son’s act didn’t think so

A judge in Wayne County, Michigan, has been censured and suspended for six months without pay for hiding evidence that her son had physically abused one of her grandsons.

Aug 4, 2023 9:04 AM CDT