Court: Woman who didn’t live with late husband can inherit
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that a woman can inherit from her husband’s estate despite living apart for more than 30 years.
The court in a 4-3 decision issued Tuesday affirmed rulings by lower courts in a dispute about the relationship between Maggie Erwin and her late husband, James Erwin Sr.
The Erwins were married in 1968 and had four children, but the Saginaw couple didn’t live together after 1976. James Erwin died in 2012 without a will.
Michigan law says a spouse can lose inheritance rights if he or she was “willfully absent” for a year or more. Maggie Erwin’s lawyer had argued that the couple maintained emotional bonds and the court’s majority agreed that emotional ties must be considered in addition to physical separation.
Lawyers defend conduct of Nassar’s sentencing judge
DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan attorney general’s office is defending the conduct of Larry Nassar’s sentencing judge and asking that she deny a defense request to disqualify herself from the former Michigan State University sports doctor’s appeal.
The Detroit News reports that the attorney general’s office says in court documents filed Tuesday that Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s role was different than a trial judge when she sentenced Nassar after he pleaded guilty to molesting women and girls under the guise of medical treatment.
Aquilina described Nassar as a “monster” and said she was signing his “death warrant” when ordered him to serve a 40- to 175-year sentence. Nassar’s attorneys say Aquilina was biased.
The attorney general’s office says “a sentencing judge is permitted to use strong language.” Aquilina will hear arguments on Friday.
Judge Drain: Michigan can’t eliminate straight-party voting
DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge in Detroit has told Michigan it can’t eliminate straight-party voting.
U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain issued the ruling Wednesday. He argued that not allowing voters to make a single mark on a ballot to pick candidates of one party would lengthen long lines and increase wait times for all voters.
Drain also ruled the change would discriminate against African-American voters because they use straight-party voting at higher rates and frequently cast ballots for Democrats.
Gov. Rick Snyder and other Republicans say a ban would inspire voters to do their homework instead of simply choosing a party.
Nearly half of all Michigan ballots were straight-party during the 2016 election. It’s also common in Republican-friendly counties won by President Donald Trump, such as Ottawa, Allegan, Livingston and Kent.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
