Daily Briefs

Detroit Mercy hosts information session on recent developments with Michigan’s SORA


University of Detroit Mercy School of Law will offer an information session from 4:30-6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, for those on the Michigan sex offender registry as well as their friends, family, and loved ones.

A recent decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit concluded that the Michigan Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) imposes punishment and may not be applied retroactively. Does v Snyder, ___ F3d ___ (CA 6 #15-1536/2346/2486, 8/25/16). Although this decision does not take effect immediately and may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, continued compliance is strongly recommended.

Anne Yantus, assistant professor of law and director of clinical programs at Detroit Mercy Law, will lead the session. She will be joined by Paul D. Reingold of the Michigan Criminal Law Program at the University of Michigan Law School. Reingold was an attorney on the case that is the topic of discussion.

They will repeat a summary of the case every 30 minutes and will answer questions posed with respect to the decision and its likely impact on those required to register in Michigan.

An editorial published in the Detroit News on August 28 noted the extremely large number of names on the registry in Michigan and suggested the registry “must be pared down to contain only serious offenders who pose a real and ongoing threat.”

The law school is located at 651 E. Jefferson, Detroit. Parking is available on site and in the surrounding area.

Contact the clinic office at (313) 596-0262 for more information regarding this event.
 

Legislature moves to not require human in driverless test cars
 

Michigan would no longer require that someone be inside a self-driving car while testing it on public roads under legislation passed unanimously Wednesday by the state Senate, where backers touted the measures as necessary to keep the U.S. auto industry’s home state ahead of the curve on rapidly advancing technology.

The bills, which are on track for final legislative approval by year’s end and are supported by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, would end a requirement that a researcher be present inside an autonomous test vehicle. The researcher would have to “promptly” take control of its movements if necessary, or the vehicle would have to be able to stop or slow on its own.

Supporters said the human operator requirement is seen as an impediment that could put Michigan at risk of losing research and development to other states.

Other provisions would let “platoons” of commercial trucks travel closely together at electronically coordinated speeds and help create a facility to test autonomous and wirelessly connected cars at highway speeds at the site of a defunct General Motors plant that once churned out World War II bombers. Also, auto manufacturers would be authorized to run networks of on-demand self-driving vehicles.

It is a nod to the carmakers’ increasing efforts to reinvent themselves as “mobility” companies.

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