SBM Blog

Michigan Supreme Court Justices Go on the Road to Ann Arbor

The justices of the Michigan Supreme Court will travel Wednesday to Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor to hear oral arguments in Estate of Beals v State of Michigan. The hearing, scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m., will allow all Ann Arbor high school students, as well as high school students from many surrounding areas, to watch actual oral arguments in a real Michigan Supreme Court case. 

This trip is just the latest in many undertaken as part of the Court Community Connections program. In the past, the program has taken justices to Lapeer, Hastings, Saginaw, Centreville, Auburn Hills, Berrien County, Lenawee County, Dearborn, Caro, Marshall, Grand Rapids, Midland, Big Rapids and Kalamazoo.

This time, you too can watch the oral arguments live, even if you're not a high school student and you're unable to travel to Ann Arbor. For the first time ever, the Supreme Court will provide a live stream of the oral argument outside the Hall of Justice. Tune in to the live stream. 

Learn more about the Court Community Connections program. 

Posted by Samantha Meinke

In Memoriam: Justice Elizabeth "Betty" Weaver

Elizabeth “Betty” Weaver, a retired justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, died in her Glen Arbor home at the age of 74.

Weaver served as a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court from 1995 to 2010, and served as chief justice from 1999 to 2001. Prior to her time on the Supreme Court, Weaver served as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals, from 1987 to 1994. She established a national reputation for her strong views on juvenile justice during her service as a Leelanau County probate judge from 1974 until 1987. She also worked as an attorney and title specialist for the Chevron Oil Company. 

Weaver devoted herself to organizations and activities dealing with education and young people. She was appointed to committees overseeing juvenile justice by Governors Milliken, Blanchard, Engler and Granholm. Governor Engler and the Family Independence Agency recognized her with an award for outstanding service to the children and families of Michigan.

Born in New Orleans, Weaver received her bachelor’s degree from H. Sophie Newcomb College and her juris doctor from Tulane University. She moved to Michigan to work as a first grade teacher and dean of students of Leelanau-area elementary schools, and she created the course “What Everyone Should Know about the Law” at Central Michigan University Off-Campus Education Department.

State Bar of Michigan Executive Director Janet Welch served as Supreme Court counsel during Justice Weaver’s tenure as chief justice. Welch noted that when Weaver considered any court reform proposal during her tenure as chief justice, her first question was always about how the proposed change would impact the most vulnerable members of society, particularly children.

State Bar President Tom Rombach noted that as a former school teacher, Justice Weaver was a prime mover in the creation of the nationally-recognized Learning Center within the Hall of Justice in Michigan.

Arrangements are being handled by Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. 

Donations to the Learning Center, supported through voluntary State Bar of Michigan contributions, can be made here. 

Posted by Samantha Meinke

In Memoriam: Justice Robert Griffin

Robert Griffin, the 96^th justice of the Michigan Supreme Court and a former United States Senator, died April 16, 2015 at the age of 91.

Justice Griffin served in the U.S. Army before returning to attend law school at the University of Michigan, where he graduated in 1950. He began his legal career as a law clerk for Michigan Supreme Court Justice John Dethmers, before moving to Traverse City where he practiced law until 1956. That year, Griffin was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1966, and was re-elected in 1972. Griffin later returned to Michigan to practice law before his election to the Michigan Supreme Court, where he served from 1987 to 1994. He received many honors over the years, including the State Bar of Michigan’s Frank Kelley Distinguished Public Service award in 2003.

State Bar of Michigan Executive Director Janet Welch, who was a law clerk for Justice Griffin, applauded Griffin’s distinguished legal and political career, and in particular his impact on young lawyers.

"In his tenure on the Michigan Supreme Court, Justice Griffin was a wonderful role model for new lawyers, embodying integrity, thoughtfulness, and dispassionate, meticulous legal reasoning,” she said.

State Bar President Tom Rombach agreed, noting that the Michigan legal community was fortunate to have an ambassador like Griffin.

“Justice Griffin was known in Washington, D.C. and throughout the country for his integrity, sense of fairness, and ability to solve problems,” Rombach said. “He loved Michigan and the practice of law, and we were very lucky to have him in our corner. He will be missed.”

A viewing is scheduled at the Robert P. Griffin Hall of Justice, 280 Washington St., Traverse City from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday. A funeral service will be held at noon Tuesday at the First Congregational Church, 6105 Center Rd., Traverse City. Funeral arrangements will be handled by the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.

Posted by Lynn Ingram

National Death Penalty Archive Will Incorporate Collection of Michigan Attorney Eugene Wanger

Michigan attorney Eugene Wanger will donate his collection of artifacts related to the death penalty to the National Death Penalty Archive in Albany, New York. His collection is one of the largest privately owned collections in the country, composed of books, periodicals, pamphlets, posters, photographs and other memorabilia, memorializing the history of the death penalty in the United States and across the globe. 

The National Death Penalty Archive will hold a dedication ceremony to incorporate the Eugene G. Wanger and Marilyn M. Wanger Death Penalty Collection into the archive at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 17 at the University at Albany Science Library in Albany New York. The event will feature Eugene Wanger as a speaker, as well as Henderson Hill, executive director of the Eighth Amendment Project; Richard Dieter, of the Death Penalty Information Center; William Bowers, director of the Capital Jury Project; Margaret Vandiver, professor at the University of Memphis; Constance Putnam, PhD, co-author of In Spite of Evidence; Eric Freedman, professor at Hofstra Law School, Daniel Linke, archivist and curator of public policy papers at Princeton University; and Charles Lanier, PhD, of Lanier Consulting and research.  

Eugene Wanger served as a delegate to the Michigan Constitutional Convention in 1961-1962 and authored the provision in the current Michigan Constitution prohibiting the death penalty in the state. 

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Not Making Enough Money, Attorneys? Traverse City Seminar Offers Solutions

The State Bar of Michigan Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program will offer a seminar, "Attorney Under-Earning: Signs, Causes and Solutions to Help You Start Earning What You're Worth," from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 24 at Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. 

Attendees will walk away with knowledge of the seven successful methods for overcoming under-earning. 

Speakers include Ann Guinn, a law practice management consultant and author of "Minding Your Own Business: The Solo and Small Firm Lawyer's Guide to a Profitable Practice," and Tish Vincent, program administrator of the State Bar of Michigan Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program, and a therapist and attorney. 

The seminar costs $99 for those who register prior to April 15, and $114 for those who register on site. A bank of rooms is being held at a reduced rate of $99 for Thursday night and $119 for Friday night, but the room must be booked prior to April 15 by calling 866-962-9653. The reduced rate does include passes to the indoor water park. 

Posted by Samantha Meinke

SBM Real Property Law Section to Host Summer Conference July 15-18 at the Grand Hotel

The State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section (RPLS) will host its 2015 Summer Conference, "Knowing the Ropes for the Voyage: The Michigan Real Estate Recovery Sails On," July 15-18 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

Programs and workshops have been developed to educate both experienced and newer practitioners, and will cover such topics as “Bridging the Gap: Financing Alternatives to Traditional Bank Lending," "Title Insurance and Real Estate Remedies," "Management and Transfers of Family Property," "Oil, Gas and Mineral Rights" and "Advanced 1031 Exchanges." John U. Bacon, author of six books on sports and business, will provide a keynote presentation on "Bo's Lasting Lessons: The Legendary Coach Teaches the Timeless Fundamentals of Leadership."

Prior to May 14, the registration fee is $285 for RPLS members who are also first-time attendees, $325 for other RPLS members and $375 for non-section members. After May 14, the registration fee rises to $325 for RPLS members who are also first-time attendees, $385 for other RPLS members and $430 for non-section members. Members of the Young Lawyers Section can register for $100 both before and after May 14. More information and registration forms can be found on the SBM RPLS website.

For more information contact Karen Schwartz at [email protected]. For more information on upcoming RPLS events, become a fan of the section on Facebook by visiting facebook.com/RPLSMI.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Ann Arbor Community High School Wins Mock Trial Tournament

Ann Arbor Community High School students claimed victory over University of Detroit Jesuit High School students in a very close contest at the 2015 Michigan High School Mock Trial Tournament State Championship on March 28 at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse in Lansing.

The state champions advance to the national championship on May 14-16 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The tournament, run by the Michigan Center for Civic Education, consisted of four regional rounds in Washtenaw, Kent, Macomb and Oakland counties. The top 10 teams moved on to the state championship, where they were judged by presiding judge, the Hon. Carl Marlinga, and scoring judges Steve Fox and Kandra Robbins.

Grand Blanc High School took third place and Ann Arbor Community High School B Team took fourth place. Anchor Bay High School, Clarkston High School, Cousino High School, Forest Hills North High School, and Mercy High School also competed in the final round. Three teams advanced to the finals for the first time.

The Michigan High School Mock Trial Tournament is sponsored by the State Bar of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Foundation, and the State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section. The Macomb County Bar Foundation coordinated the Macomb Regional Tournament. 

View a complete photo gallery of the championship round and the winning team.

Posted by Samantha Meinke

Oakland County Lawyers: Want to Be a Judge?

Governor Rick Snyder seeks applicants to fill the 46th District Court seat being vacated by the Hon. William Richards.

Visit the governor's website for more information on the post, and to access the application form you must fill out and submit with your resume to be considered for the opening.

Applications are due by April 22.

Posted by Samantha Meinke