Agenda set for appellate bench bar conference

The 2019 Michigan Appellate Bench Bar Conference, titled: “Just the Facts: The Importance of Facts and the Appellate Record to Responsible Decision-Making and Appellate Advocacy,” will take place on Wednesday through Thursday, March 27-29, at The Inn at St. John’s Conference Center in Plymouth.

The event is co-sponsored by the Michigan Supreme Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals.

The conference will begin with welcoming remarks from Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack Court of Appeals Chief Judge Christopher M. Murray as well as and Co-Chair Mary Massaron with Plunkett Cooney.

Co-Chair Philip DeRosier, Dickinson Wright, will moderate the opening plenary session.

“The Bench Bar Conference has become one of the state’s premier events for the appellate community,” said Massaron. “We work hard to identify cutting-edge issues, and to provide content that our attendees can’t necessarily get anywhere else. The ability to network with members of Michigan’s judiciary is another great benefit to attending.”

The event will include plenary sessions with panels consisting of state Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges along with court staff.

Discussions will focus on issues relating to the facts and record on appeal, what’s working and what might be improved in our appellate courts, technology and the record, and Supreme Court practice tips.

Attendees will choose from over 30 breakout sessions that tackle a broad array of topics covering many practice areas including civil, criminal, family, child welfare, and the Michigan Supreme Court.

Included in the registration fee are meals and refreshments, including an opening night reception.

Day two offers the DeWitt C. Holbrook Memorial Fund Luncheon featuring Keynote Speaker Paul Clement who is a former United States solicitor general and widely recognized as the best U.S. Supreme Court advocate of his generation. Later that evening, attendees will enjoy a reception and dinner hosted by members of the appellate bench during which the Appellate Practice Section’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Retired Chief Judge Michael J. Talbot of the Michigan Court of Appeals.

For additional details and registration information, visit the Michigan Bench Bar Conference website: https://benchbar.org.