Supreme Court rules data mandate on Mich. schools is illegal
LANSING (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court says it’s illegal for school districts to be forced to collect data without the state paying the bill.
In a 4-3 decision, the court said Wednesday that a 2000 executive order and subsequent law violated the Michigan Constitution because lawmakers didn’t cover the costs of the new burden. The court says the costs were not minimal.
The school districts’ lawyer says they aren’t entitled to money for past work. But he says they can’t be forced to collect data for the Center for Educational Performance and Information unless they’re paid.
The court’s three conservative justices disagreed with the decision, saying schools didn’t offer specific proof of their costs. The Education Department isn’t commenting.
New Troy ordinance to distracted drivers: Pay attention or pay fine
TROY, Mich. (AP) — Motorists prone to dining, e-mailing and brushing their hair while behind the wheel are being advised to knock it off by a Detroit suburb determined to crack down on distracted drivers.
Beginning July 29, drivers in Troy will receive traffic tickets if police catch them sending or receiving text and voicemail messages, eating and grooming. An ordinance approved by City Council on Monday also makes it illegal to interact with pets, read, write, or use a hand-held entertainment device while driving.
Lt. Michael Lyczkowski said fine amounts for the primary offense have yet to be established by a local district court.
A statewide law that makes it illegal for a person to read, write or send text messages from a cell phone or other device while operating a moving vehicle went into effect July 1.
Justice Department wants ex-prosecutor’s lawsuit dismissed
DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former prosecutor in Detroit who claims his privacy was violated through leaks to a newspaper.
The government says it’s likely that no one in the Justice Department leaked information about a confidential ethics probe of Richard Convertino.
Convertino’s career as a prosecutor began to crash in 2004 when a judge threw out convictions in a terror-related trial because evidence was withheld from the defense. Earlier that year, the Detroit Free Press reported that Convertino was the subject of an internal investigation.
Convertino’s lawsuit against the government is in a Washington court. The Justice Department portrays him as a rogue, unmanageable prosecutor. His lawyer says the latest filing is “absurd.”
WLAA Downtown Evening Social networking and mingling
The Wayne Law Alumni Association will be gathering in Downtown Detroit at the 150 Cafe Lounge Thursday, July 29 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All alumni and current students are welcome. Appetizers and drink specials will be provided. To RSVP or for more information contact Jehan Crump-Gibson, ‘09, at downtownhappyhour@live.com or at (248) 254-3473.
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