January 2001

Present

Bill Ladd, Jim Ridella, Jenny Pilette, Marsha Tuck, Susan Butterwick, Judy New, Bill Kandler, Michelle La Flora, John Forczak, Karen Cook, Maria Stapulionis, Charlotte Allen, Frank Vandervort, Marge Bakker, Beverly Walker, Rebeckka Visconti, Sheila Phillips, Nancy Diehl, Jack Kresnik (guest, Detroit Free Press)

The minutes of December, 2000, were moved and adopted. It was planned that the meetings will be held every other month in Lansing starting in March, 2001. The February meeting will be held in Detroit. Judge Robert Butts of Cheyboygan said that he would be honored to accept an appointment to the CLS board. He replaces Bob Byington. F. Vandervort proposed a fee of $2,000 per issue to produce the Child Welfare Law Journal as well as another $2,000 per issue for printing and mailing. It was moved and adopted that this be approved for 3 issues with the issue being revisited in 9 months. The Spring, 2001 issue will focus on cutting edge juvenile programs; the summer issue on delinquency and the fall issue on juvenile mental health. Frank is looking for authors for this last issue. Bill Ladd reported on his response to the Probate Judge's Association on the issue of medicaid funding for incarcerated juveniles. His interpretation was this was an attempt to shift costs to the county. He will continue to investigate this. Jack Kresnik of the Detroit Free Press was invited to speak regarding appointment of counsel for children throughout the state. F. Vandervort also spoke on how counsel was funded and appointed. Much discussion was held. It was decided that the Bar needed to spearhead changes in this area. This was echoed by our lobbiest, Bill Kandler. There was a motion, which passed, to set up a round table discussion to invite persons to a forum which would discuss with and educate the section as to many issue which effect Juveniles; from housing to mental health. The committee to address this consists of Jenny Pilette, Sheila Phillips, Rebeckka Visconti, Karen Cook , Marsh Tuck and Charlotte Allen. It was agreed that Bill Ladd would meet, with Bill Kandler, with the legislative counsel's and various chairs in Lansing. The liaisons on Family and Criminal Law sections reported. Rebekka Visconti discussed the appellate training scheduled for 3/9/2001 in Lansing. It was agreed that the March CLS meeting will be held at 3PM on that date at the Bar building in Lansing following the training.