Markman, O’Brien, Zahra, McCormack, Johnson and Kelley could be a law firm for all voters know about them, instead of the six party-nominated candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court on the non-partisan section of the Nov. 6 ballot. As a result, too few voters understand, or likely care about, the blatant contradiction in that sentence: […]
Michigan Supreme Court
Posted inMichigan Government
Touting of GOP justices by chamber gets 'no foul' from Truth Squad
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Real Cases” and “Tough Judges” Who: Michigan Chamber of Commerce What: Radio ads Truth Squad call: No foul The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Republican state Supreme Court justices Stephen Markman and Brian Zahra and Republican candidate Colleen O’Brien. Questionable statement: “A man convicted of raping a 7-year-old tries to […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Flagrant foul called on Democratic attack in Supreme Court race
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Streak” and “Lily” Who: Michigan Democratic Party What: Web/TV ads Truth Squad call: Flagrant Foul Questionable statement: “After my daughter, Lily, was killed at the hands of a child abuser, I vowed to spend my life protecting children. I know how important it is to have judges who protect them too. […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Democrats commit foul with Penn St./Supreme Court link, Truth Squad rules
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Extreme Supreme Court Endangers Our Children” Who: Michigan Democratic Party What: Internet ad Truth Squad call: Foul Questionable statement: “The Penn State scandal was a tragedy that didn’t have to happen. Lives were destroyed because top university officials covered up the abuse for years. Child abuse victims deserve their day in […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: Elites are trying to wrest control of courts from the voters
By Dan Pero/American Justice Partnership The recent recommendations of Michigan’s Judicial Selection Task Force have been widely hailed by legal elites, prominent newspaper editorial boards and others. Yet the proposed changes would do little to reduce the influence of money or politics in the judicial selection process, while seriously weakening the power of ordinary voters […]
Posted inPhil's Column
Court elections put big money in charge
When I think about the Michigan Supreme Court, I have to sadly conclude it represents the very best justice that partisan money can buy. That’s a scandal and a disgrace. Four years ago, the University of Chicago Law School ranked all the nation’s supreme courts. It rated Michigan’s dead last, based partly on its lack […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“We are here and it is now. Further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine” — H. L. Mencken, 20th century American newspaperman. * Publius, a nonprofit in Michigan dedicated to promoting civic participation, put together a short video clip that explains how Detroit got in a position where fixing streetlights or providing police protection […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government” — Sam Houston, Texan revolutionary. A task force looking for ways to improve how the state selects its Supreme Court justices suggested the creation of an “open primary” to have voters select the […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Deja vu: Biz tax cuts head agenda in Lansing
“At the end of the day, we’ll be a stronger, more vibrant state,” Gov. Rick Snyder asserted a year ago in his first State of the State speech that offered the first outlines of his 2011 legislative agenda. But he didn’t say what day that would be. As he prepares to deliver his second “SOS” […]
Posted inMichigan Government
'No fault' and Lansing's fault
For a quick and thorough review of what the issues are in the push to change Michigan’s no-fault/unlimited medical coverage system for catastrophic injuries in auto accidents, check out Pat Shellenbarger’s piece last week in Bridge. Pat made two points that have received far little coverage elsewhere, but reflect, I think, the fundamental dysfunction in […]