Blog
Small Modicum of Justice for the Mentally Ill
July 28, 2021
STIPULATED ORDER APPROVING FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN MPAS AND MDHHS AND DISMISSING MPAS’ CLAIMS AGAINST MDHHS AND ELIZABETH HERTEL WITH PREJUDICE On July 20, 2021, Plaintiff Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Inc. (MPAS) and Defendant Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) entered into a Final Settlement Agreement. (Final Agreement, attached as Exhibit 1.) […]
New York Becomes First State to End Lawsuit Protections for Police Officers
March 29, 2021
Hopefully, other states will follow NY’s lead in leveling the playing field between police officers and citizen contact. A series of police reform bills were passed by the New York City Council Thursday, including a measure that eliminates qualified immunity for officers, CBS New York reports. New York becomes the first state to remove long-standing protections […]
Michigan Court of Appeals says probationers can use Medical Marijuana while on probation.
March 1, 2021
Defendant appeals by leave granted1 the circuit court’s order denying defendant’s application for leave to appeal the district court’s denial of his motion to allow him to use medical marijuana while on probation. We reverse the district court’s order denying the defendant’s motion to modify the terms of his probation to allow him to use […]
Michigan judges can’t stop medical marijuana use by probationers, court rules
February 15, 2021
Registered patients previously barred from using medical marijuana while on probation may now light up, the state Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
Local Zoning Restrictions NOT preempted by Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA)
January 26, 2021
In an unpublished opinion, we affirmed the trial court’s September 2017 order determining that plaintiff’s, the Charter Township of Ypsilanti, zoning ordinance directly conflicted with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA), MCL 333.26421 et seq., and thus was preempted by the MMMA.
Whitmer signs bills offering more alternatives to jail time for traffic offenses, low-level crimes
January 6, 2021
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday signed bipartisan legislation aimed at providing more alternatives to jail time for offenses that don’t pose a public safety risk, among other reforms to the state’s criminal justice system.
Criminal Record Expungement Bill
December 2, 2020
LANSING, MI – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday signed a bill package that provides a framework for thousands of Michigan residents to seal prior criminal records from public view.
Rescission of Memorandum Providing for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (“DAPA”)
June 19, 2017
Source On June 15, Department of Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, after consulting with the Attorney General, signed a memorandum rescinding the November 20, 2014 memorandum that created the program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (“DAPA”) because there is no credible path forward to litigate the currently […]
Supreme Court Deems Consensual Sex with Person 16 or Above is Not Aggravated Felony
May 31, 2017
ESQUIVEL-QUINTANA v. SESSIONS, ATTORNEY GENERAL CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT No. 16–54. Argued February 27, 2017—Decided May 30, 2017 Petitioner, a citizen of Mexico and lawful permanent resident of the United States, pleaded no contest in a California court to a statutory rape offense criminalizing “unlawful sexual intercourse […]
Criminal Law- A valid registration card is not dispositive concerning § 4 immunity
May 23, 2017
By: Agenique Smiley in Criminal Law, Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Court of Appeals, Most Important Opinions May 11, 2017 A party is entitled to § 4 immunity only if he or she is in full compliance with the MMMA, which includes its definitions of both a “patient” and a “caregiver.” If a party’s status […]