SBM Blog

Michigan Supreme Court Appoints Chief Judges

The Michigan Supreme Court has appointed a number of chief judges to courts across the state for terms that begin immediately and end Dec. 31, 2015.

Judge Roy Hayes III has been appointed chief judge of the 33rd Circuit Court. 

Judge. Ward Clarkson has been appointed chief judge of the 35th Circuit Court. 

Judge Kathleen Brickley has been appointed chief judge of the 36th Circuit Court, the 7th District Court and the Van Buren County Probate Court. 

Judge Margaret Noe has been appointed chief judge of the 2A District Court. 

Judge Gregory Clifton has been appointed chief judge of the 25th District Court. 

Judge Daniel Palmer has been appointed chief judge of the 32A District Court.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Enter the SBM Law Day Contest for the Chance to Win $3,000 in Prizes

The third annual State Bar of Michigan Law Day creative contest is now open for entries. Participants should submit a creative entry illustrating the 2015 Law Day theme, "Symbols of Freedom Under Law."

Contestants are encouraged to tie one or more Michigan Legal Milestones to the 2015 theme in a creative project. Examples of creative projects include essays, debates, mock trials, podcasts, dramatic or musical plays, reenactments, short documentaries, board games, video games, and more. Electronic submissions are highly encouraged.

More than $3,000 in prizes will be awarded to winning entries.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Michigan Supreme Court Appoints Business Court Judge in Berrien County

The Michigan Supreme Court has appointed the Hon. John Donahue as business court judge in Berrien County. The appointment is effective immediately and will expire April 1, 2019.

Read the court's order.

Governor Appoints Two Judges to the Bench in Kalamazoo County

Governor Rick Snyder appointed Judge Paul J. Bridenstine to the Ninth Circuit Court and Christopher Haenicke to the Eighth District Court in Kalamazoo County.

Judge Paul J. Bridenstine has served as chief judge of the Eighth District Court since 2000 and will be replaced by Haenicke. Judge Bridenstine will move into the seat vacated by Judge J. Richardson Johnson.

Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Bridenstine served as assistant prosecuting attorney with the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office from 1992 to 2000. In addition to serving on the bench, Judge Bridenstine teaches political science at Western Michigan University. He has also taught at Davenport College. He earned his law degree from the University of Detroit in 1991 and his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Haenicke is vice president of Greenleaf Trust, where he has worked for 13 years. Prior to that, he worked as an attorney in private practice for nine years. He earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1993, and earned his bachelor's degree from Ohio State University. 

Posted by Samantha Meinke

 

Practice Management Resource Center to host Law Practice Bootcamp for Solo Practitioners

The State Bar of Michigan Practice Management Resource Center will present a solo and small firm seminar called “Bootcamp: Starting a 21st Century Law Firm” from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the State Bar of Michigan Michael Franck building, located at 306 Townsend St. in downtown Lansing.

Victoria Vuletich, a professor who teaches professional responsibility at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, and Dan Linna Jr., an assistant dean for career development and professor who teaches litigation at Michigan State University College of Law, will present the seminar’s keynote address on the fundamental and irreversible changes occurring in the legal world and the impact they will have on the future practice of law.

Other speakers, including Diane Ebersole, Danon Goodrum-Garland, JoAnn Hathaway, Matt LaMaster and Samantha Meinke, will speak about practicing law virtually in the 21st century, online and social media marketing for lawyers, technology hardware for law firms, technology software for law firms, building a paperless law practice, alternative billing options and understanding how to set up and manage trust accounts ethically.

The seminar costs $110 to attend, and will include a lunch sponsored by Advantage Technologies. The first five people to register for the seminar will receive a $99 book, “Flying Solo,” for free. Find more information about or register for Bootcamp.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Michigan Court of Appeals Rules Attorney General had Just Cause to Terminate Andrew Shirvell

The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that the Michigan Department of Attorney General had just cause to terminate Andrew Shirvell, and that he is ineligible for unemployment benefits.

The appeals court affirmed a circuit court's order, which held that "there was competent, material, and substantial evidence on the whole record to support that there was just cause to terminate Shirvell and properly held that the termination was not arbitrary or capricious."

The appeals court reversed the circuit court's order on Shirvell's unemployment eligibility, ruling that the circuit court "erred in concluding that Shirvell did not engage in misconduct that disqualified him for unemployment benefits under the MESA. Shirvell's speech was not protected and there was competent, material, and substantial evidence introduced at the unemployment compensation hearing to support the UIA's determination that Shirvell engaged in misconduct such that he was disqualified for benefits under MCL 421.29(1)(b)[.]"

Shirvell was fired in November of 2010 for using state resources to maintain a blog attacking the first openly gay student body president of the University of Michigan and for lying to investigators during his disciplinary hearing.

Read the complete summary of this case, as well as summaries of many others in the State Bar of Michigan's e-Journal. Sign up for a subscription to the e-Journal and it will be delivered to your email inbox every Monday through Friday. 

 Posted by Samantha Meinke

Justices Select Robert P. Young Jr. to Serve as Chief Justice For A Third Term

The justices of the Michigan Supreme Court selected Robert P. Young Jr. to serve for a third two-year term as chief justice of the court. Chief Justice Young has served on the court since 1999, and was elected and re-elected to the court in 2002 and 2010. He has served as chief justice since 2011.

Chief Justice Young says he plans to continue implementing innovations that will better measure court performance and increase efficiency while improving service to the public.

"Being allowed to stay on as chief justice allows us continuity to build on that record of success and move ahead with further reforms to make Michigan's judiciary a national model," Chief Justice Young said. "Continuing efforts to adopt best practices, implement technology, and re-engineer our courts are absolutely critical if Michigan is to remain a leader in court innovation and in improving service to the public."

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Michigan Supreme Court Makes Appointments to the Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions

The Michigan Supreme Court reappointed Hon. Michael Smith, Hon. Mark Boonstra, Hon. James Redford, Hon. Michael Warren, Thomas Van Dusen and Thomas Waun, and appointed Gary Felty Jr. to the Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions. All will serve terms beginning Jan. 1, 2015 and ending Dec. 31, 2017.

The Supreme Court also reappointed Hon. James Redford chairperson of the committee.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Michigan Supreme Court Makes Appointments to Foreign Language Board of Review

The Michigan Supreme Court reappointed Rafael Villarruel and Mary Rubio and appointed Hon. Suzanne Hoseth Kreeger to the Foreign Language Board of Review. All three will serve terms beginning Jan. 1, 2015 and ending Dec. 31, 2017.

Read the order.

Posted by Samantha Meinke