“All trial courts must take immediate action to protect the public and court personnel by limiting activity only to essential functions,” said Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack. “The Supreme Court speaks with one, decisive voice: Courts must respond so that the policy is uniform all across Michigan.”
Essential court functions outlined in the Court’s administrative order include:
Arraignments for in-custody defendantsReview and determination of requests for search warrants and personal protection ordersCertain child protective proceedingsCritical issues regarding child support and child custody
Read the entire Advisory here
In a continued effort to crack down on price gauging during the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order banning retailers from pumping up prices on emergency supplies.
The executive order states that if a business or individual has acquired any product from a retailer, the business or individual must not resell that product in Michigan at a price that is grossly in excess of the purchase price of the product
Read more at mLive.com
The state of Michigan has reached a settlement with a civil rights organization to inform people who receive traffic tickets and other citations that they can request a low- or no-cost alternative if they can't afford fines and fees.
Read more at Detroit Free Press
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a law Monday that will help low-income families avoid home foreclosures for unpaid taxes.
The law allows local governments to forgive penalties and interest for families that meet an income test.
Read more at Michigan Radio
The Read by Grade Three law was passed in 2016 to combat the low literacy rates.
Education leaders say Michigan is in a "literary crisis," with the state's third grade students testing on the lower end of the 50 states nationally during the M-STEP or National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). The Read by Grade Three law was passed in 2016 to combat the low literacy rates.
Read more at wzzm13
Some states, including Georgia, have put similar programs in place, and the federal government is also working to improve resources for those in need of immediate mental health services.
Once installed, operators could connect callers with local care providers and resources, including up-to-date availability of psychiatric and substance abuse services.
Read more at mLive.com
The federal minimum age for purchasing any tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, jumped to 21 on Dec. 20.
Michigan 18-year-olds can vote, buy rifles or register for the military draft, yet they are now too young to legally buy cigarettes or vaping devices.
Read more at the Detroit Free Press
On Dec. 16th, a new state law took effect to combat "porch pirates."
On Monday, a new state law takes effect to close the gap. If caught stealing, mail thieves could face fines and up to a year in jail. Repeat offenders could face up to five years in prison.
Read more at Fox17
The application process for getting a criminal record sealed from public view in Michigan can be daunting.
But before you even apply, figuring out whether you're eligible can be confusing.
A recent study by two University of Michigan Law professors found that expungement leads to higher earnings and low recidivism rates. Yet, the professors estimate that more than 90% of people who qualify don't apply within five years of becoming eligible.
Read more at Detroit Free Press
Some of the infractions have no clear penalties in the current law
Any changes the workgroup comes up with are going to face a hurdle. To change a citizen-initiated law requires a three-fourths vote of the legislature, instead of the normal majority vote. On some pieces, Nessel said, that three-fourths vote is going to be unavoidable, and it’s hard to do..
Read more at mLive.com
