Lawyer loses challenge to mandatory membership in group
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to a policy that requires lawyers join the State Bar of Michigan.
Lucille Taylor said the group’s use of her dues for advocacy activities violates her right to free speech, among other objections.
But the appeals court, 3-0, said the U.S. Supreme Court has long held that mandatory membership as a condition of practicing law doesn’t violate freedom of association. The Supreme Court said in another case that bar associations can use dues without violating free speech.
Taylor was chief counsel under Gov. John Engler and a top Republican lawyer in the Legislature. She argued that a 2018 decision in favor of public employees who don’t want to join a union would help her.
“The speech claim would prevail if an integrated bar association used mandatory membership fees to fund non-germane political or ideological activity without providing adequate opt-out procedures,” Judge Amul Thapar said Thursday.
Taylor conceded that the State Bar of Michigan’s activities don’t cross that line, Thapar said.
Man charged with fatally sitting on girl to get evaluation
SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) — A man charged with killing a 3-year-old girl by sitting on her will undergo a psychiatric evaluation before his case can proceed.
Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens signed an order Thursday sending 55-year-old John E. Graves to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti, where staff will assess his competency to stand trial and whether he’s criminally responsibility for the alleged act.
Once staff there have completed their evaluation and submitted findings to the court, Jurrens will review their report and rule on whether Graves is fit to participate in future court hearings, The Saginaw News reported.
Graves is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Sept. 20 death of 3-year-old Paris N. Sharpe. Graves was visiting an apartment in Bridgeport when he became intoxicated and sat on the girl while she slept on a couch, prosecutors said. Graves sat on her long enough that she asphyxiated to death, prosecutors said.
Graves is represented by defense attorney Rico D. Neal, who requested that his client be sent to the Forensic Center.
‘Membership Maximizer’hosted online Aug. 19
An “OCBA Membership Maximizer” will be offered online Thursday, August 19, from 8 to 9 a.m. via Zoom.
This event is free to members and first-time guests. To register, visit www.ocba.org and click on “events.”
Details on how to join the Zoom meeting will be distributed in a separate email to those who pre-register. For those who do not get that information emailed to them and are interested in participating, contact the OCBA at 248-334-3400.
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