SBM Blog

Cooley Law School At Western Michigan?

It's a courtship that has gone on for many years. Cooley Law School and Western Michigan have been, shall we say, friends with benefits in such things as joint degree programs and shared facility initiatives. For three years, they've talked about more. Now it looks like they are planning to tie the knot, or, in press-release-speak, they are "discussing the possibility of a stronger alliance that would create a formal affiliation between Cooley, a private law school, and WMU."

From the press release, here's the description of what's already in place:

• 2002—Cooley and WMU launch a partnership that brings a law school to Grand Rapids for the first time, when plans are announced to open a Cooley branch campus in conjunction with WMU's Graduate Center-Downtown in the Arena District. WMU completed a $1.6 million buildout of one floor of its Graduate Center to to meet Cooley's needs. In 2005, Cooley moved to its own facility near the WMU Graduate Center.
• 2002—WMU and Cooley launch a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration degree program.
• 2008—WMU and Cooley launch a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration degree program.
• 2011—The schools launch their third dual-degree partnership, providing West Michigan with its first-ever Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work degree program.

Governor Seeks Applicants For Macomb Circuit Vacancy

The governor is seeking applications from qualified members of the bar for a judgeship in the 16th Circuit Court, Macomb County. The vacancy was created by the appointment of Judge David Viviano to the Michigan Supreme Court. The application deadline is April 18, 2013. Please be aware that you must reside within the judicial district to be appointed. Along with the application, you must submit a copy of your resume to Office of the Governor, Legal Division, 111 S. Capitol Avenue, P.O. Box 30013, Lansing, Michigan 48909.

Clark Hill and Pittsburgh's Thorp Reed To Merge

The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that the merged firm will have 300 lawyers in 12 offices. Both firms are over a century old. Here's the Clark Hill press release.

Hon. Wade H. McCree, Jr. Answer To Formal Complaint

A pdf of the answer to the complaint is here.

Surprise: Supremes Grant Cert In Michigan Affirmative Action Case

The word "surprise" is SCOTUSblog's word, not ours. We tipped you off to this possibility last November. The case is Schuette v. Michigan Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (docket 12-682), appealing an 8-7 6th Circuit decision overturning Michigan's Prop 2 which banned the use of race in admissions to Michigan's public colleges and universities.

Breaking: Byron J. Konschuh Appointed To 40th Circuit (Lapeer) Court

Gov. Rick Snyder today appointed Lapeer County Prosecutor Byron J. Konschuh to the 40th Circuit Court to replace retiring Circuit Judge Michael Higgins.

From The Bench To The Head Of State Social Services - A Trend?

When Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan left the bench to become the director of Michigan's Department of Human Services even those who knew her deep and longstanding passion for child welfare were surprised. But she may have started something. Indiana Governor Mike Pence has just appointed a 31-year veteran juvenile court judge to head Indiana's Department of Child Services. A story in the NWI Times summarizes new appointee Mary Beth Bonaventura's goals:

• Focus on the department's hotline
• Establishment of a Children's Commission
• Visits to all 92 counties
• Case management burnout
• Mental health for children

HT: Indiana Law Blog

JTC Recommends 30-Day Suspension For Judge Kenneth Post

The Judicial Tenure Commission has recommended a 30-day suspension without pay in addition to public censure for Hudsonville district judge Kenneth Post, who held new attorney Scott Millard in contempt in December 2011 for counseling his client not to answer the judge's question about prior use of controlled substances. Here's the decision and recommendation (PDF). The JTC's formal complaint filed last July asserting that he trivialized a court proceeding, infringed on the constitutional rights of the defendant, and improperly held the attorney in contempt and sent him to jail for advocating on behalf of his client. 

Formal Judicial Tenure Commission Complaint Filed Against Judge Wade McCree

Here's the complaint (PDF), which asks the Michigan Supreme Court to appoint a special master. The complaint arises from an affair Judge McCree had with a woman, Geniene La'Shay Mott, who was a complaining witness seeking child support in a case before him. He has acknowledged the affair. There are four counts to the complaint: improper conduct in the child support case; false report of a felony; improper conduct in a case involving Mott's cousin; and improper bench conduct and demeanor. Here's the Free press story.  Judge McCree was suspended by the Michigan Supreme Court without pay in February, pending the resolution of the disciplinary proceedings.

Judge Lifts Injunction on Dearborn Lawyer's McDonald's-Halal Case

A controversial injunction ordering a Dearborn attorney to cease his public criticism of a proposed class action settlement in a case alleging that non-Halal chicken was served in a Dearborn McDonald's has been lifted. In February, Judge Kathleen Macdonald granted plaintiffs' lawyers request for a preliminary injunction ordering Majed Moughni, who was not an attorney in the case, to take down his criticism on a Facebook page he manages, and instead to post the proposed settlement. The order also provided:

In order for this Court to further supervise the process of Class Notice and the administration of justice, by 12 noon, on February 8, Majed Moughni shall deliver to the Court and each counsel of record, a complete list of those individuals who responded on the Facebook page to statements about this case, including under the response “Like,” and such list shall provide all information contained in each response, including name, contact information and any comments.

Here's the full injunction (PDF). In addition to the Michigan ACLU and the Public Citizen Litigation Group, a host of law bloggers have objected to the injunction. Just for example, "Would You Like Unprincipled Prior Restraint With That?"

Read the Free Press story on lifting the injunction here.