Criminal Justice
Black family sues Grosse Pointe man who displayed KKK flag outside their home
A Black mother and her daughter filed a racial harassment and discrimination lawsuit against their former white neighbor in Grosse Pointe Park on Tuesday after he terrorized them and displayed a Ku Klux Klan flag in a side window facing their home in 2021. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court alleges Ryan Wilde began tormenting JeDonna […]
Michigan judge says only Congress can keep Trump off of the 2024 ballot
A Michigan Court of Claims judge on Tuesday agreed with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson that her office lacks the authority to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the ballot for the 2024 Republican primary election. The ruling by Judge James Robert Redford determined that arguments as to whether Trump should be barred based on […]
On this day in 1979: Anna Diggs Taylor is sworn in as a federal judge, making history
On Nov. 15, 1979, Detroit attorney Anna Diggs Taylor was sworn in as a federal court judge for Michigan’s Eastern District. The 46-year-old was the first African-American woman to serve in the post. She was appointed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter. Attending the ceremony included United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young; Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young; […]
Hall’s power sharing proposal ignored as Michigan House and Senate officially adjourn for 2023
A little bit of flash, but not a lot of bang, officially ended the Michigan Legislature’s session on Tuesday. While Thursday was the final day this year that lawmakers voted on bills, Tuesday officially marked the end of the 2023 legislative year, as both the Democratic-led House and Senate adjourned sine die at noon, as […]
Courts, state officials hesitate to keep Trump off 2024 ballots
Some scholars say a little-known, Civil War-era provision in the U.S. Constitution should prohibit former President Donald Trump from appearing on state ballots in next year’s presidential election. But it seems increasingly unlikely that he will be disqualified. Courts in Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey and elsewhere are considering whether Trump engaged in insurrection on Jan. […]
Legislature approves bills upping penalties for damaging places of worship, cemeteries
In order to combat threats of violence and acts of vandalism against places of worship and gathering for cultural and religious communities, the Michigan Legislature this week passed bills making “maliciously and intentionally” damaging or defacing such properties based on their association or perceived association with a certain identity a crime of “institutional desecration.” The […]
8 Republicans introduce articles of impeachment against Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel
A group of eight Republican state representatives on Thursday introduced a resolution bringing articles of impeachment against Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel that has little chance of being adopted. State Reps. James DeSana (R-Carleton), Neil Friske (R-Charlevoix), Joseph Fox (R-Fremont), Rachelle Smit (R-Martin), Matt Maddock (R-Milford), Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers), Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) and Angela […]
Michigan Supreme Court hears 2020 election robocall misinformation case
Two far-right operatives who made tens of thousands of calls spreading misinformation about voting across Midwestern states ahead of the 2020 presidential election, had oral arguments taken Thursday in their robocall voter intimidation criminal case in the Michigan Supreme Court. Investigators who have looked into calls made in Michigan, Ohio and New York estimate that […]
Repeal of Michigan’s Engler-era drug immunity law passes House
A bill repealing a Michigan law preventing state lawsuits against drug manufacturers passed the state House of Representatives on Wednesday. Senate Bill 410, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), passed 79-30 in an overwhelming show of support for the rollback of the 1995 law. It’s now up to the Senate to approve the final […]
Anti-abortion protesters gather at Michigan Capitol as lawsuit is filed to overturn Proposal 3
One year after Michigan voters passed landmark abortion rights laws via Proposal 3, over 1,000 people rallied to eliminate it during a “march for life” at the Capitol building. Earlier the same morning, Right to Life of Michigan, the event’s organizer, filed a lawsuit alongside other Michigan organizations in federal court asking for legal intervention […]
Georgia man arrested while carrying assault-style firearm near U.S. Capitol
WASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police used a taser on and arrested a man on Tuesday whom they alleged walked with an assault-style weapon near the Capitol building, though it didn’t initially appear the man made any direct threats against members of Congress. USCP Chief Tom Manger said during a brief press conference that a 21-year-old […]
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 […]