Courts
Federal lawsuit argues Hamtramck’s LGBTQ+ Pride flag ban is unconstitutional
A federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges the city of Hamtramck’s Pride flag ban violates free speech rights and numerous other state and federal laws. The lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Detroit was filed on behalf of former Hamtramck Human Relations Commission members Russ Gordon and Cathy Stackpoole. The Hamtramck residents were fired from the commission […]
Michigan sexual abuse statute of limitations package could remain an ‘orphan’
Bills expanding the amount of time victims would have to sue their perpetrators and eliminate the statute of limitations for more criminal sexual conduct offenses were not put up for a vote last week during a marathon House session, even though they were on the agenda. In the past, the bills have had bipartisan support, […]
Whitmer signs bipartisan bills supporting crime victims
Bipartisan legislation aimed at supporting crime victims was signed Monday in Detroit by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The package of four bills, two sponsored by Democrats and two sponsored by Republicans, provide increased access to support services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, add privacy protections and allow oral impact statements to be given virtually. […]
Program to protect the addresses of Michigan violence survivors has its first participants
Less than two months ago, Michigan’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) launched and interest and support for it is strong, Program Coordinator Karen Hall told the Michigan Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention & Treatment Board (MDSVPTB) at their meeting Friday. Back in September, the Michigan Attorney General’s office launched the ACP, which allows survivors of different […]
A sweeping report on a Michigan school shooting finds multiple failures and a troubled aftermath
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. As America emerged from the pandemic, communities continued to experience a rising tide of gun violence. School shootings and the rate of children and teens killed by gunfire both reached all-time highs […]
Medical exceptions to abortion bans often exclude mental health conditions
More than a dozen states now have near-total abortion bans following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, with limited medical exceptions meant to protect the patient’s health or life. But among those states, only Alabama explicitly includes “serious mental illness” as an allowable exception. Meanwhile, 10 states with near-total abortion bans (Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia […]
Legislation expanding gun restrictions for domestic abusers clears Michigan House
Legislation that will extend gun restrictions to those who are convicted of domestic violence-related misdemeanors is on its way to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature following passage Wednesday by the Democratic-led Michigan House. Senate Bill 471, sponsored by state Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Senate Bill 528, sponsored by state Sen. Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.), […]
Michigan is the only state that criminalizes surrogacy contracts, but bills aim to change that
It took nearly two years for Tammy and Jordan Myers of Grand Rapids to adopt their biological children, who are twins, after they were born via a surrogate in 2021. It was a process, Tammy Myers told lawmakers on Wednesday, that was “heartbreaking, offensive and extremely costly.” Michigan’s current laws don’t allow for contracts for […]
Rep. Smit honors men acquitted in governor kidnapping plot
Michigan Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin) last week offered special tribute to two men who were acquitted in the criminal case over their participation in a failed plot to kidnap the governor. Smit, offered honors and tribute at an event in Allegan County last Friday to twin brothers Michael and William Null who in September were […]
Raise the Wage Michigan files lawsuit over blocked ballot proposal
Raise the Wage Michigan, a coalition advocating for increasing the state’s minimum wage, has filed a lawsuit with the Michigan Supreme Court following the Michigan Board of State Canvassers’ decision last month against certifying a ballot initiative to increase the minimum wage to $15 and phase out the tipped wage. During a special meeting on […]
Doctor suing FDA recruited to scientific advisory board to ‘repurpose’ abortion pill
One of the anti-abortion doctors suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to rescind its 2000 approval of a medication abortion regimen on the basis that one of the drugs is dangerous is now consulting on the development of a breast cancer treatment that involves the same drug: mifepristone. It is the family doctor’s latest […]
Michigan judge declines Trump’s request to toss lawsuit to remove him from ballot
A judge on Wednesday rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to force him off the 2024 ballot in Michigan. Court of Claims Judge James Robert Redford denied the request and turned down Trump’s motion to be party to the lawsuit, citing the court’s limited jurisdiction. In the order, Redford […]