Panel says trial court funding is ‘broken’
LANSING (AP) — A commission says the way Michigan trial courts are funded is “broken” and should be overhauled with a new model in which the state shares more of the cost.
The Trial Court Funding Commission, created under a 2017 law, released its interim report Monday with recommendations designed to address how judges depend on money from defendants convicted of crimes to cover court operating expenses.
Under one recommendation, the state would establish a fund for receipt of all trial court assessments and state general funds, and distribute the revenue to local courts based on caseloads. Court employees would become state employees, and the state would fund technology needs.
The Michigan Supreme Court is considering whether court costs ordered by judges are an illegal tax against offenders.
Deal reached on lawsuit over ban on ballot selfies
GRAND RAPIDS (AP) — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has agreed to settle a lawsuit over a ban on so-called ballot selfies.
Joel Crookston, a voter in the Kalamazoo area, sued in 2016 to try to stop Michigan’s ban on taking photos of marked ballots or publicly exposing them.
Lawyers won’t talk about the deal until details are filed in federal court on May 8. But a recent court filing suggests there will be an easing of the ban. The state said it wanted to avoid “any confusion” in polling places and wait until after local elections are held on May 7.
In 2012, Crookston took a picture of his ballot and posted it on social media. He wasn’t challenged by election officials, but a lawyer warned him that it was illegal and could disqualify his ballot.
Michigan’s ban on displaying completed ballots has been around since 1891.
Urban Land Institute to host summit in Detroit
DETROIT (AP) — Urban regeneration, mixed-use developments and market trends in real estate are expected to be discussed during a land use conference in Detroit.
The Urban Land Institute of Michigan will host its Spring Summit, April 29 and 30, at Cobo Center. It’s geared toward real estate developers, investors, government officials, architects, urban planners and other service providers.
Tours of new projects will be given.
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit research-and-education organization.
Bad idea: Pouring gas on wet ballfield, setting it on fire
RIDGEFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Authorities say it could cost over $50,000 to repair a Connecticut baseball diamond where somebody dumped gasoline and set it on fire to dry out the infield.
Police are investigating the fire in Ridgefield in which 25 gallons of gasoline was poured on the field Saturday.
First Selectman Rudy Marconi told Hearst Connecticut Media that 75 to 100 people watched as it happened, with some recording video on their cellphones. The town’s high school baseball team had been planning to host Amity on the field.
A hazardous waste removal crew began digging up the contaminated soil the next day.
No one has been charged.
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