Calendar
March 2025
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March 28
Mark the Date
Law school presents film about genuinely affordable housing March 28
Wayne State University Law School will present “Thinking Beyond the Market,” a film about genuinely affordable housing, on Friday, March 28, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Wayne Law’s Partrich Auditorium, 471 W. Palmer Ave. in Detroit.
Brian Doucet. a vetted professor from The University of Waterloo, will be joining to watch his film “Thinking Beyond the Market” which explores already existing policies and programs using not market-based housing options. The film is 95 minutes with a Q&A immediately following.
Anyone with questions about the free screening may email Shannon Gaffney at gv8357@wayne. edu.Webinar looks into educational advocacy in juvenile justice March 28
The Michigan Judicial Institute and Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Services will present the webinar “Building the Village, Part 2: Educational Advocacy” on Friday, March 28, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
Speaking at the webinar will be Lynda McGhee, co-executive director, Michigan Children’s Law Center; and Judith New, education advocate, Michigan Children’s Law Center. The speakers will discuss:
• The role of an Education Advocate.
• The most common challenges found in Juvenile Justice/Child Welfare cases.
• An overview of Special Education laws.
• Using an Education Advocate to overcome barriers in school or to address court involvement (progress report to court).
• Advancing educational goals without an advocate.
The intended audience for the webinar includes juvenile justice county implementation team members, judges, court administrators, juvenile probation officers and caseworkers, courts, law enforcement, school personnel, attorneys, social service providers, other juvenile justice stakeholders, and child welfare professionals.
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”Law school presents film on clemency April 1
Wayne State University Law School and the Damon J. Keith Center will present a viewing of the film “Commuted” on Tuesday, April 1, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in Wayne Law’s Partrich Auditorium, 471 W. Palmer Ave. in Detroit.
At the age of 26, Danielle Metz was sentenced to 3 life terms in prison for a drug conviction tied to her husband. After serving 23 years, she was granted clemency. Clemency offered her a rare chance to regain the life and family that she’d been dreaming about in prison. The film “Commuted” traces Danielle’s journey to find purpose and love, and to confront the wounds of incarceration that linger after release from prison. Q&A and reception will follow after the film viewing.
Anyone with questions about the free screening may email Jalila Jefferson-Bullock at jalila.jefferson-bullock@wayne.edu.Law professor to disucss ‘Unjust Debts’ online April 2
The Eastern District of Michigan Bar Association will present a bankruptcy event, “Unjust Debts – A Discussion with Professor Melissa Jacoby,” online Wednesday, April 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. via Zoom.
Jacoby is the Graham Kenan Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she teaches commercial and bankruptcy law. From 2021-2024, Jacoby was appointed by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice to assist the Federal Judicial Center on educational programming for bankruptcy judges.
Jacoby has released a new book, “Unjust Debts: How Our Bankruptcy System Makes America More Unequal,” in which she challenges the idea that bankruptcy is a tool to help the vulnerable and unlucky and argues instead that it favors the powerful.
To register for the online discussion, visit https://edmibar.org.ABA TECHSHOW 2025 to spotlight the future of legal technology April 2-5
Artificial intelligence, cloud-based practice management, data privacy and e-discovery will be among the hot topics at the American Bar Association TECHSHOW 2025, which spotlights the most useful and practical technologies available in the legal industry, April 2-5 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago.
The conference, now in its 40th year, brings together legal professionals, technology experts and industry leaders to explore the latest innovations shaping the future of law. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with hands-on workshops, insightful panel discussions and keynote presentations from some of the most influential voices in the industry.
Sci-fi novelist and technology activist Cory Doctorow will be the keynote speaker on April 3 at 8:40 a.m. Doctorow is a special consultant to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit civil liberties group that defends freedom in technology law, policy, standards and treaties, and a visiting professor of practice at the University of North Carolina’s School of Library and Information Science.
For the ninth consecutive year, ABA TECHSHOW will host the Startup Pitch Competition, which will kick off on April 2 at 5 p.m. Fifteen legal startups will face off in the competition, judged by TECHSHOW attendees who will pick the most innovative startup for the year.
Other program highlights include the following sessions:
• “AI and Access to Justice: Paradigm Shift or Shiny Object?”
• “Legal Technology Regulation: Lessons Learned in Cloud Technology Innovation”
• “E-Discovery Challenges in Small Business Litigation”
• “Waking Up to a New Era: Preparing for the Legal Landscape of Tomorrow”
• “Fostering a Thriving Remote Culture in Law Firms: Strategies for Success”
• “The Future of Cybersecurity in the Legal Industry: Trends to Watch”
• “Filing to Verdict: How Tech & AI are Redefining Court Interactions”
• “Judicial Perspectives on Generative AI: Ethical Use, Disclosure and Expectations in the Courtroom”
• “Legal Tech Year in Review: Top Stories and Future Trends”
The complete ABA TECHSHOW 2025 schedule can be viewed at www.techshow.com/schedule-4.
(https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/ 2025/03/aba-techshow-2025-future-legal-technology/)Program to focus on 1985 bombing of MOVE headquarters April 3
Wayne State University Law School along with the Detroit Center for Black Studies, Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, Wayne State Political Science Department, and Wayne State Office of Multicultural Student Engagement Juneteenth Planning Committee are co-sponsoring “Burning Down the House (& a Whole Neighborhood): 1985 Philadelphia Police Bombing of the MOVE HQs” on Thursday, April 3, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in Wayne Law’s Partrich Auditorium, 471 W. Palmer Ave. in Detroit.
On May 13, 1985, the Philadelphia Police, amid a confrontation with the dissident group MOVE, dropped a bomb on a row house in a Black working-class neighborhood, setting a fire that killed 11 of the house’s 13 occupants (including five children) and burned down 61 residences; the fire’s spread resulted in substantial part from an initial decision to withhold firefighting for some 45 minutes, in a vain attempt to force the house’s inhabitants to flee the building.
The April 3 program will feature a film, lecture, and discussion on this incident. “Let the Fire Burn” is a documentary by director Jason Osder. Dr. Robin Wagner-Pacifici, Professor Emerita of Sociology, New School for Social Research, and author of “Discourse and Destruction: The City of Philadelphia Versus MOVE” (The University of Chicago Press, 1994), will give the lecture. The discussion panelists will feature Professor Ronald Brown, Wayne State Political Science Department; Professor Jalila Jefferson-Bullock, Wayne Law; and moderator Professor Brad Roth, Wayne State Political Science Department and Law School.
For additional information about the free program, email Professor Brad Roth at brad.roth@ wayne. edu.Attorney to discuss ‘Brady and Youngblood’ online April 3
The State Appellate Defender Office’s Criminal Defense Resource Center along with the West Michigan Regional Investigator Association will continue their 2025 Trainings for Defense Investigators with a look at “Brady and Youngblood” online Tuesday, April 3, from noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Speaking at the webinar will be Kristyna N. Nunzio of The Nunzio Law Firm PC. She earned her law degree from Cooley Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a specialization in cognitive science from Michigan State University.
To register for the webinar, visit www.sado.org and click on “upcoming events.” Anyone with questions may email CDRC Manager,Kathy Swedlow at kswedlow@sado.org.
Women’s Bar Book Club to meet
April 7
The Women’s Bar Association (WBA), Oakland County region of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, will present its next Book Club online Monday, April 7, beginning at 6 p.m. via Zoom.
For the April meeting, the club will be discussing “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden.
To register for this discussion and receive the Zoom link, email Janine.M.Plourde@gmail.com.Annual MAJ Women’s Caucus Judicial Mixer hosted April 8
The Michigan Association for Justice Women’s Caucus will host its 7th Annual Women’s Caucus Judicial Mixer “Sip &?Socialize” on Tuesday, April 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hazel’s, 1 Peabody Street in Birmingham.
Space for this event is limited and registration is required. To register, visit www.michiganjustice.org and click on “events.”‘Cigar Night’ hosted by JBAM in Rochester Hills April 8
The Jewish Bar Association of Michigan will host a “Cigar Night” sponsored by Abood Law Firm on Tuesday, April 8, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The networking event will take place at Churchill’s Cigar Bar 2596 S. Rochester Rd. in Rochester Hills. Complimentary food and cigars will be provided.
To register, visit www.jewishbar.org and click on “events.”Court analysts discuss ‘Debunking Fatherhood Myths’ April 8, 9, 10, 15 and 16
The Michigan Judicial Institute (MJI), in collaboration with the Friend of the Court Bureau, will host “Debunking Fatherhood Myths: Effective Strategies for Countering Misinformation and Building Trust” on April 8, 9, 10, 15, and 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day via Zoom.
This webinar will explore how widespread myths about fatherhood are perpetuated and provide practical, evidence-based strategies for countering misinformation. Attendees will learn how to effectively use techniques such as motivational interviewing and the Bridging Research, Accurate Information, and Dialogue (BRAID) model to debunk myths and build trust with communities.
The session will focus on maximizing time and resources by identifying which fatherhood myths to prioritize in outreach efforts. The session will conclude with real-world examples of successful collaborations between Friends of the Court and trusted community leaders to debunk fatherhood myths and share accurate, useful information.
Speaking at the webinar will be Amy Lindholm, management analyst, State Court Administrative Office, Friend of the Court Bureau; and Lara Markovitz, court analyst, State Court Administrative Office, Friend of the Court Bureau.
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”‘Friend of the Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Training’ offered online April 8, 9, 10, 15 and 16
The Michigan Judicial Institute (MJI), in collaboration with the Friend of the Court Bureau, will provide a virtual 20-hour “Friend of the Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Training” on April 8, 9, 10, 15, and 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day via Zoom.
MCR 3.224 provides that the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) will establish training and qualification requirements for persons conducting each type of alternative dispute resolution activity.
This virtual training meets SCAO’s training requirements for friend of the court staff to conduct facilitative and information-gathering conferences and friend of the court domestic relations mediation.
Due to the interactivity of the webinar, participation will be limited to no more than 24 participants. MJI will ensure that as many courts are included in the training as possible. By registering for this webinar, staff is committed and required to attend all sessions. If there is any reason staff cannot attend all sessions, they should not register.
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.” Once registration is complete, attendees will receive an e-mail from Zoom indicating that registration is pending and waiting for host approval. MJI will select and notify attendees of their acceptance to the training.‘Prosecuting the Drugged Driver’ presented online April 9
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan will present the Traffic Safety Training Program Webinar “Prosecuting the Drugged Driver” on Wednesday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to noon via Zoom.
Drugged driving is a growing public safety threat on our roads. Impaired driving cases involving substances other than alcohol can be challenging cases to both investigate and prosecute. This training will provide law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools and resources they need to effectively investigate and prosecute drugged driving cases.
The webinar’s topics will include:
• Overview of the Michigan State Police Toxicology Lab
• The Seven Drug Categories
• Jury Selection in a Drugged Driving Trial
This course if approved for 3 hours of credit under PAAM’s recommended CLE Best Practice.
To register for this free webinar, visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on “training.”Law professor to discuss ‘Battle for Racial Justice in the North’ April 9
Wayne State University Law School will present Michelle Adams who will discuss her recent book “The Containment: Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North” on Wednesday, April 9, from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. at Wayne Law’s Partrich Auditorium, 471 West Palmer in Detroit.
Adams is the Henry M. Butzel Professor of Law at the University of Michigan. Her research centers on race discrimination, school desegregation, affirmative action, and housing law. She will be available to sign books after the talk.
Lunch will be provided on a first come first serve basis. For additional information on the free lecture, email Michael Oswalt at michael.oswalt@wayne.edu.Litigation Section to conduct ‘Honors Reception 2025’ April 9
The Litigation Section of the State Bar of Michigan will host its “Honors Reception 2025” on Wednesday, April 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Blvd. in Dearborn.
This is a reception to honor this year’s award recipients. The evening will feature a strolling dinner followed by the awards program.
To register for the reception, visit https://connect.michbar.org/litigation/home.Webinar focuses on ‘Enhancing Public Trust’ April 9
The Michigan Judicial Institute is pleased to provide the “Enhancing Public Trust Through Bench-Community Connections Webinar” on Wednesday, April 9, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
What should a judge say when presenting to a third-grade classroom? What if a judge gets invited to speak at the rotary club? This webinar will offer inspiration, resources, and strategies for judges to excel in community-based engagements and show how the judicial branch affects everyday life.
This program is eligible for continuing judicial education (CJE) credit: [1.0 Integrity & Demeanor].
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”‘Understanding the Mechanics Behind the OWI Investigation’ explored online April 10
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan will present the Traffic Safety Training Program Webinar “Why Did You Charge OWI: Understanding the Mechanics Behind the OWI Investigation” on Thursday, April 10, from noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.
In cases involving crashes, prosecutors often hear the phrase, “Learn the crash recon language.” The idea behind that phrase is that a prosecutor must understand crash reconstruction before he/she can tell the story of the crash to a jury. The same principle applies to impaired driving cases. Prosecutors need to understand the operating while intoxicated (OWI) language so he/she can effectively present the impaired driving case to a jury. Every OWI investigation is made up of the same working parts and it’s critical that prosecutors and law enforcement officers understand those mechanics to build the strongest case of OWI that can be effectively conveyed to a jury.
In this webinar, the presenters will break down an OWI investigation into the three detection phases and do a deep dive into each phase. Law enforcement attending this webinar will gain a better understanding of what type of evidence they should be looking for in each phase to build a strong case of probable cause for an impairment charge. Prosecutors attending this webinar will have a better understanding of how every OWI is structured, what evidence law enforcement is looking for in each phase to show impairment, what role the field sobriety tests play in the OWI investigation, and how to use these phases to effectively present the case in court at trial.
The webinar will be presented by Kinga Canike, Michigan Traffic Safety Resource prosecutor, and Sergeant Jim Janes with the Michigan State Police.
To register for this free webinar, visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on “training.”‘Meet the Judges’ event planned in Birmingham April 10
The New Lawyers Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association will host its “Meet the Judges” event on Thursday, April 10, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at The Community House, 380 S. Bates St. in Birmingham,
Judges from the Oakland County District, Probate, and Circuit courts, along with judges from the Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan have been invited to this annual event.
In addition to networking, attendees can check out the items that will be up for bid at this year’s silent auction. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to Oakland County Children’s Village which offers a safe, structured, therapeutic environment that includes secure detentions, residential treatment, and shelter care. Children’s Village provides individuals and their families the opportunity to foster the skills necessary to promote positive change.
Cost to attend the event is $50 for OCBA new lawyers (82500+), paralegals, admin assistants, and students; $60 for OCBA members; $80 for non-members. To register, visit www.ocba.org and click on “events.” Anyone with questions may contact Katie Tillinger at 248-334-3400 or ktillinger@ocba.org.Law school hosts Family Day & Awards Banquet April 12
Wayne State University Law School will host the Wayne Law Family Day & Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 12, from 3 to 8 p.m. in Wayne Law’s Partrich Auditorium, 471 W. Palmer Ave. in Detroit.
This event is free and open to all. Families, friends, and alumni of Wayne Law to attend are encouraged to attend. At the Awards Banquet, the Student Board of Governors will present the incoming Board, the Professor of the Year, 1L Professor of the Year, and several student organization awards. Catering will be provided.
For additional information on the free banquet, email Samantha Lamrock at hm0797@wayne.edu.Defenders to discuss ‘Inadmissible Evidence’ April 15
The State Appellate Defender Office and the Criminal Defense Resource Center will present a webinar on “Defendants’ Constitutional Right To Present (Otherwise) Inadmissible Evidence” Tuesday, April 15, from noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. Speaking at the training will be SADO assistant defenders Steven Helton and Jackie McCann.
Helton earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2013. While in law school, he interned for U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gerald Rosen, Eastern District of Michigan. After graduating, Helton took a position with WilmerHale, working in the firm’s international commercial arbitration department in London. When he returned to Detroit, he joined the MAACS roster and began handling criminal appeals, while also handling commercial litigation for corporate clients. Helton joined SADO in 2018 so that he could continue working for indigent individuals.
McCann has been an assistant defender at SADO since 2001. She was the principal author of SADO’s Criminal Defense Resource Center’s Defender Plea, Sentence, and Post-Conviction Book and Annotated Sentencing Guidelines Manual from 2011-2019. McCann regularly represents defendants in Michigan’s appellate courts, including in People v Francisco, 474 Mich 82 (2006), People v Steanhouse, 500 Mich 453 (2017), and People v King, 512 Mich 1 (2023). She is also an adjunct professor for the Criminal Appellate Practice Clinic at Wayne State University Law School on a rotating basis.
To register for the webinar, visit www.sado.org and click on “upcoming events.” Anyone with questions may email CDRC Manager Kathy Swedlow at kswedlow@sado.org.Firm continues Employment Law Series April 15
Maddin Hauser continues its 2025 Breakfast Bites: Employment Law Series with “So, You Think You Can Leave?” presented Tuesday, April 15, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in-person at One Towne Square, Fifth Floor, in Southfield, and online via Zoom.
Speaking at the program will be Andrew M. Creal, an associate in Maddin Hauser’s Complex Litigation and Risk Advisory group. He handles business and real estate matters, including general business and contractual disputes, business torts, shareholder oppression claims, supplier disputes, construction litigation, real estate disputes, land use and zoning issues, and other real property matters. Creal also litigates matters arising from franchise-related disputes as a member of the firm’s Franchise and Distribution group.
For additional information or to register for the webinar or in-person seminar, visit https://maddinhauser.com and click on “events.”‘MIDC Updates 2025’ presented online April 15
The Oakland County Bar Association will present “MIDC Updates 2025” as a webinar on Tuesday, April 15, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
One of the reforms ordered by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) is for the criminal defense appointment system to be independent of the judiciary. Speaker Peter L. Menna, chief attorney, Indigent Defense Services Office, will discuss how Oakland County is implementing all current MIDC standards, including 6 and 7, in the Circuit and 52nd District courts.
Credit has been approved with the OCBA for 1 Criminal credit and 1 Juvenile credit.
Cost for the webinar is $12 for OCBA members pre-registration and $25 for non-members pre-registration. Oakland County MIDC court appointed attorneys can attend for free.
To register for this webinar, visit www.ocba.org and click on “events.”Basic interviewing, communication techniques focus of webinar April 15-17
The Michigan Judicial Institute will present a “Basic Interviewing, Counseling, and Communication Techniques Webinar” on Tuesday through Thursday, April 15-17, via Zoom.
This webinar is held pursuant to Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 1985-5, which states, in part: “A probation officer/caseworker . . . must complete the Michigan Judicial Institute certification training for juvenile court staff within two years after date of employment.” (Administrative Order No. 1985-5, § I.C.1.b.1.). This webinar is mandatory for all family division/juvenile court staff requiring certification.
Presenters at the webinar include Jennifer Mockler, Dr. Ann Heerde, Dr. Kristen Capps, Dr. Rita Cameron Wedding, and Dr. Kathleen Bailey.
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”‘Shaping the Practice of Law with AI’ presented online April 16
The Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers, the Italian American Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association, Oakland County Region of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, will co-host “Shaping the Practice of Law with AI” online Wednesday, April 16, from 6 to 8 p.m.
This Zoom presentation will feature a discussion with former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack.
To register for the online discussion, email ISIAL President Jennifer Cupples at jennifer@jacuppleslaw.com.‘Legal Writing for Beginners’ offered online April 17
The Oakland County Bar Association will present a webinar on “Legal Writing for Beginners” Thursday, April 17, from noon to 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
Whether refreshing skills or seeking guidance on the essentials of legal writing, this seminar is perfect for beginners. The webinar will cover everything from drafting motions to preparing persuasive briefs.
Speakers Prof. Mark Cooney, Cooley Law School, and Parisa Sadrnia, Lewis & Dickstein, will offer practical tips and best practices. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Credit has been approved with the OCBA for 1.5 Criminal credits and 1.5 Juvenile credits.
Cost for the webinar is $25 for OCBA members and $35 for non-members. Oakland County MIDC court appointed attorneys can attend for free.
To register for this webinar, visit www.ocba.org and click on “events.”‘Navigating High-Stakes Litigation’ discussed at symposium April 17
The Association of Corporate Counsel, Michigan Chapter, will present its April Symposium sponsored by Bush Seyferth Law on Thursday, April 17, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Red Run Golf Club, 2036 Rochester Rd. in Royal Oak.
The symposium will feature a panel discussion on “Navigating High-Stakes Litigation: Lessons, Settlements, and Strategic Defense.” A cocktail hour will follow the discussion.
To register for the symposium, visit www.acc.com/chapters-networks/chapters/michigan.Attorneys featured in ‘Guardians of Your Data’ webinar April 17
McDonald Hopkins will present the webinar “Guardians of Your Data: Why Third-Party Vendor Breaches are Really a ‘YOU’ Problem” on Thursday, April 17, from noon to 1 p.m.
In today’s interconnected world, third-party vendors are essential to business operations—but they also introduce significant risks to your data security. As businesses grow and rely on multiple vendors, ensuring that their security protocols align with yours is vital to protecting your organization and customer data.
McDonald Hopkins’ Dominic Paluzzi, Meghan Collins, and Eric Benson will dive deep into the hidden dangers of relying on third-party vendors and how their security failures can directly impact an organization. The trio will discuss;
• Your incident response requirements following a third-party vendor breach
• The hidden risk of third-party vendors
• Incident mitigation strategies
• Vendor due diligence exercises
For additional information on the webinar, visit www.mcdonaldhopkins.com and click on “events.”‘Creating a Culturally Competent Law Firm’ explored April 17
The Association of Legal Administrators, Metropolitan Detroit Chapter, will host a Lunch & Learn event on “Creating a Culturally Competent Law Firm” Thursday, April 17, from noon to p.m. at the offices of Pitt, McGehee, Palmer, Bonanni, & Rivers PC, 117 W. 4th St. #200 in Royal Oak.
This Lunch & Learn will feature JaNae Martin, ALA International DEIA chair. The presentation will also be available online via Zoom.
ALA members and business partners can attend for free. Guest can attend for $35. To register, visit https://aladetroit.org.Dyslexia and the criminal justice system explored in webinar April 21
The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) will present a webinar on “Dyslexia: Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Implications” Monday, April 21, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Dyslexia is defined by the International Dyslexia Association as a neurological learning disability characterized by poor spelling and word recognition abilities. Consequences of these deficits often include secondary reading problems such as poor reading comprehension. A harmful domino effect can be traced from dyslexia to learning difficulties in school and several adverse outcomes across the lifespan.
These adverse outcomes include criminal justice-involvement, as research reports that people entangled in the criminal justice system may be disproportionately likely to present with undiagnosed dyslexia. Although not a causal risk factor for criminal behavior, dyslexia may amplify the risk of criminal justice-involvement when co-occurring with other established risk factors (e.g., impulsive control issues, poor verbal skills, low self-esteem, social skill limitations, early language problems, and cognitive problem-solving).
Intended for professionals working in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings, this training provides attendees with a comprehensive overview of dyslexia, its potential causes, clinical features, and red flag indicators. Nuanced discussions of potential opportunities for prevention, management, and intervention will also be discussed. For instance, high quality academic and reading interventions could play a key role in reducing the rates of delinquency and recidivism among justice-involved populations.
The principal goals of this training are to encourage the (a) routine screening of dyslexia and (b) adoption of dyslexia-informed practices and policies in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal systems. Empirically based research findings will be highlighted throughout this training.
Cost for the webinar is $50. To register, visit https://publicdefenders.us/event/dyslexia-criminal-justice.‘Pro Se Prisoner Early Mediation Program Training’ offered April 22
The Pro Bono Committee of the Eastern District of Michigan Bar Association will host a “Pro Se Prisoner Early Mediation Program Training” on Tuesday, April 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Detroit Room at the Theodore Levin Federal Courthouse, 231 West Lafayette in Detroit.
Those who complete the free training will be qualified to serve as mediators for the Eastern District of Michigan’s Pro Se Prisoner Early Mediation Program. Additional information on the program can be found on the federal court’s website at www.mied.uscourts.gov/index.cfm?pagefunction=prosemediation.
The training will be led by retired federal Judge Victoria Roberts of JAMS and Morgan Esters of Honigman LLP .
To register for the free training, visit https://edmibar.org and click on “events.”Bar association plans ‘Gilman Award’ lunch April 23
The Eastern District of Michigan Bar Association will host the “2025 Leonard R. Gilman Award Luncheon” on Wednesday, April 23, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Atheneum Suites Hotel and Conference Center, 1000 Brush Street in Detroit.
The event celebrates the ideals of excellence, professionalism, and commitment to public service embodied by Len Gilman and this year’s award recipient.
The Gilman Award is given annually to an outstanding practitioner of criminal law who exemplifies the excellence, professionalism, and commitment to public service of U.S. Attorney Len Gilman. Alan Gershel wrote of him, “As the United States attorney (Len) instilled a level of excellence, professionalism and commitment to public service that exists to his day… (and) his presence is felt everyday in numerous, often subtle ways. Whether it be in the recognition that depriving a person of his liberty is an awesome responsibility that requires the utmost care or in the treating of others with respect, his influence is never far.
“Lenny was the paradigm of what a prosecutor should be. He balanced aggressive advocacy with compassion,” Gershel noted. “While he always took his work seriously he never took himself too seriously. A smile and self-deprecating sense of humor could disarm the most strong-willed adversary.”
Cost for the “2025 Leonard R. Gilman Award Luncheon” is $45 for EDMIBAR members and $65 for non-members/guests. To register for the luncheon, visit https://edmibar.org and click on “events.”
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