Hearing set on proposed changes to court rules

The Michigan Supreme Court will hold a public administrative hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 18, to gather comments regarding various proposed amendments to rules that govern the state’s legal system.

The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Supreme Court courtroom located on the sixth floor of the Michigan Hall of Justice, 925 W. Ottawa Street in Lansing.

Matters on the agenda include:

1. 2002-37 Proposed Amendment of E-Filing Rules—Published at 503 Mich 1330 (2019)
Issue: Whether to adopt the proposed amendments of various rules related to e-Filing for change of venue and transfer of jurisdiction, the juvenile code, civil infraction proceedings, the criminal code, and other miscellaneous procedures.

2. 2017-02 Proposed Amendment of MCR 6.508—Published at 503 Mich 1326 (2019)
Issue: Whether to adopt the proposed amendment of MCR 6.508 that would enable a defendant to show actual prejudice in a motion for relief from judgment where the defendant rejected a plea based on incorrect information or ineffective assistance of counsel.

3. 2018-02 Proposed Amendment of MCR 3.501—Published at 503 Mich 1327 (2019)
Issue: Whether to adopt the proposed amendment of MCR 3.501 to require that 50 percent of unclaimed class action funds be disbursed to the Michigan State Bar Foundation.

4. 2018-11 Proposed Amendment of MRPC 1.1 and 1.6—Published at 503 Mich 1318 (2019)
Issue: Whether to adopt the proposed amendments of MRPC 1.1 and 1.6 regarding a lawyer’s obligation to maintain competence in relevant technology and reasonable measures to maintain confidentiality of documents transmitted electronically.

5. 2018-12 Proposed Amendment of MCR 2.612—Published at 503 Mich 1316 (2019)
Issue: Whether to adopt the proposed amendment of MCR 2.612 to clarify that writs of coram nobis, coram vobis, audita querela, and bills of review and bills in the nature of a bill of review are abolished.

6. 2018-16 Proposed Amendment of MCR 3.201 and Proposed Addition of MCR 3.230—Published at 503 Mich 1320 (2019)
Issue: Whether to adopt the proposed amendment of MCR 3.201 and the proposed addition of MCR 3.230 to provide procedural rules to incorporate the Summary Support and Paternity Act to establish a parent’s paternity or support obligation through a summary action.

7. 2018-18 Proposed Amendment of MCR 3.106—Published at 503 Mich 1351 (2019)
Issue: Whether to adopt the proposed amendment of MCR 3.106 that would require trial courts to provide a copy of each court officer’s bond to SCAO along with the list of court officers.

8. 2018-25 Proposed Amendment of MCR 7.312—Published at 503 Mich 1303 (2019)
Issue: Whether to adopt the proposed amendment of MCR 7.312 to incorporate the procedure for cases being argued on the application.

9. 2018-27 Proposed Rescission of MCR 8.123 and Proposed Rescission of
Administrative Order 1997-5—Published at 503 Mich 1312 (2019) and 503 Mich 1317 (2019)
Issue: Whether to rescind MCR 8.123 and Administrative Order No. 1997-5 due to the current practice of appointment and payment of counsel now being governed by statute and regulated through the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission.

10. 2019-03 Proposed Amendment of MCR 8.110—Published at 503 Mich 1314 (2019)
Issue: Whether to adopt the proposed amendment of MCR 8.110 to provide additional opportunity for input by judges in the process for chief judge selection and clarify the judicial vacation leave time.
Persons who wish to address the court regarding matters on the agenda will be allotted three minutes each to present their views, after which the speakers may be questioned by the justices.
Comments offered at a public hearing must pertain directly to an item on the public hearing agenda

To reserve a place on the agenda, notify the Office of Administrative Counsel in writing at PO Box 30052, Lansing, MI 48909, or by e-mail at ADMcomment@courts.mi.gov, no later than Friday, Sept. 13.