Michigan

Defenseless: Lack of public defenders creates a crisis for indigent clients and increased caseloads for lawyers

Many states are facing a crisis in public defense because of low pay, excessive caseloads, frequent burnout and a “great resignation” of qualified attorneys that began during the pandemic and shows no signs of ebbing.

Aug 1, 2024 3:00 AM CDT

Shaken-baby murder conviction overturned after defendant offers evidence questioning diagnosis

The Michigan Supreme Court has granted a new trial to a woman convicted of killing her infant daughter by shaking her, holding that proposed expert testimony on shaken baby syndrome would likely result in an acquittal.

Jul 29, 2024 3:11 PM CDT

Michigan is latest to ban ‘gay and trans panic’ criminal defense

Michigan is the latest state to ban the “gay and trans panic” criminal defense. The American Bar Association has long called for legislative action to “curtail the availability and effectiveness” of the defense, saying that “successful gay and trans panic defenses constitute a miscarriage of justice.”

Jul 25, 2024 8:45 AM CDT

GOP jump-starts 2024 election challenges

The Republican National Committee has expanded legal challenges to voting and election procedures in key swing states since March, when presumptive nominee Donald Trump installed new party leaders with a mandate to pursue his unsubstantiated claims of widespread cheating.

Jul 10, 2024 2:30 PM CDT

Judge’s revelation is new twist in saga of man driving in video during suspended-license hearing

A man accused of driving during a Zoom court hearing for a suspended-license charge, creating a viral moment, is back behind bars again.

Jun 6, 2024 10:46 AM CDT

Apparent mix-up snagged man driving in viral video during suspended-license hearing

A video of a court hearing last month went viral after a Michigan judge appeared stunned that a man accused of driving without a license appeared for a Zoom hearing while behind the wheel.

Jun 3, 2024 12:02 PM CDT

Baby Steps: Acceptance of compensated surrogacy widens with Michigan law rewrite

Michigan’s new law sets up a streamlined system under which courts must enter a judgment of parentage for the intended parent or parents, provided they follow all of the necessary conditions.

Jun 1, 2024 1:00 AM CDT

Man accused of driving on suspended license adds to his troubles in Zoom court hearing

A judge in Michigan revoked bond for a man accused of driving on a suspended license after the defendant called into a court hearing on Zoom while driving.

May 30, 2024 9:45 AM CDT

Lawyer convicted in client’s murder in ‘elaborate and shocking sequence of events’

A Southfield, Michigan, lawyer was convicted last week in the June 2022 murder of his client in an alleged plot to gain his money.

May 28, 2024 10:39 AM CDT

Proposal to impose nation’s most restrictive cap on contingency fees may appear on ballot, judge rules

A judge in Nevada has refused to block a ballot measure that would impose a 20% cap on contingency fees in civil cases in the state.

May 15, 2024 9:29 AM CDT

Lawyer charged with illegally transmitting Michigan data after 2020 election

A lawyer who pressed election fraud claims after the 2020 presidential election is facing new criminal charges alleging that she and a township clerk allowed an unauthorized computer examiner to access voter data that included nonpublic information.

May 9, 2024 2:53 PM CDT

Lowered bar pass cut scores mean better bar pass rates in 4 states

Of the five states that lowered the minimum score required for passing the bar last year, four of them had increases in their February 2024 bar passage rates, according to the latest data compiled by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

May 7, 2024 10:23 AM CDT

Slate for 2024-2025 term announced by ABA Legal Ed Section

The ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar has announced its 2024-2025 council slate.

May 3, 2024 1:34 PM CDT

ABA should consider impact of rape-disclosure questions on bar applications, 3 senators tell association

The ABA should study the prevalence of bar admissions questions that require the disclosure of campus sexual misconduct complaints and requests for orders of protection, according to a letter by three members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Apr 29, 2024 12:17 PM CDT

Which judges are most likely to issue nationwide injunctions? Party of appointing president makes a difference

Fifty-nine out of the 64 nationwide injunctions blocking Trump administration policies were issued by judges appointed by Democratic presidents, according to a study in the Harvard Law Review.

Apr 12, 2024 9:25 AM CDT