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Equal Access Initiative
This initiative develops policies and programs for underserved populations as well as groups with special needs or who face barriers to access. Resources and Downloads
Access to the Legal System in Michigan for Persons with Disabilities People with Cognitive and Psychiatric Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System presented at the State Bar of Michigan Annual Meeting, September 22, 2005 Disabilities Committee Law School Forum - Summary of Group Discussions Disabilities Project Newsletter is an electronic newsletter addressing issues faced by people with disabilities in the courthouse setting. The project was funded by a grant from the Newman Foundation and was the concept of members of the Disabilities Committee of the Bar’s former Open Justice Commission. Subscribe to the Newsletter Request for Accommodations Forms Available: If you, your client, or a witness requires special accommodations for an appearance in a Michigan court, please notify the court in advance so the court has the opportunity to make reasonable accommodations. Notice should be provided by use of this form: The form can be printed and mailed to the administrator of the trial court in which you are scheduled to appear. Requests for Court of Appeals accommodations should be directed to the Clerk of the Court of Appeals. The court's accommodation policy can be viewed by visiting the link below: Requests for accommodations for the Supreme Court should be directed to the Clerk of the Supreme Court.
Alimony Guidelines Survey Report provides a snapshot of family division judges' views towards alimony guidelines. Conducted in response to the finding of the Michigan Supreme Court Task Force on Gender Issues in the Courts that the economic impact of divorce is very different for women than it is for men, the survey elicited a 70% response rate from the 208 judges in Michigan hearing family law cases. Of most interest was the finding that 60% of the judges use computerized guidelines to help analyze and settle cases. Review the report for more details on the results. "Information on Family Legal Issues" is an updated version of the juvenile justice brochures posted in September 2004. Reformatted and distributed as a compact disc to more than 500 juvenile justice leaders in Michigan, this resource includes comprehensive legal information for young people, their parents, teachers, lawyers, and others who care about them. The information is presented in easily understandable language and includes state of the law information on topics including arrests, adoption, abuse and neglect, and medical treatment. Electronic links to court forms and other helpful websites and a complete listing of family courts in Michigan make this a comprehensive source of information. The compact disc and can be purchased through the State Bar's e-commerce website.
RoundTable Forum Video and High School Curriculum - ". . . And Justice For All" ". . . And Justice For All" is an hour-long video taped at WKAR studios on June 7, 2001, designed for public airing on television stations throughout the state and for use as an educational tool. A hypothetical courtroom situation was pre-produced and used to identify common and/or unique open justice issues in the Michigan court system related to the impact of race, gender, ethnicity, disability sexual orientation, and other personal characteristics of court users. These vignettes are the basis for discussion and analysis by top legal minds in the state including the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, a Federal District Judge, and the Executive Director of the State Bar of Michigan. In addition, a curriculum for the high school education level has been developed with the assistance of the Michigan Center for Civic Education (formerly the Center for Civic Education through Law), which coordinates with the video to teach about the importance of the legal system and the impact of bias and discrimination in its application. Contact Judy Hershkowitz at jhershkowitz@mail.michbar.org to purchase any of the following: Race, Gender, and Ethnicity Issues
Final Report of the State Bar of Michigan Task Force on Racial/Ethnic and Gender Issues in the Courts and the Legal Profession (January 1998) The Michigan Supreme Court created the Task Force on Gender Issues in the Courts and the Task Force on Racial/Ethnic Issues in the Courts in 1987. Their mission was to examine the courts and to recommend changes to assure equal treatment for men and women, free from race or gender bias. The two task forces issued their reports in 1989. Those reports concluded that a substantial number of citizens and lawyers believe bias affects justice and that this perception of bias is based in reality. The reports contained 167 recommendations to improve the quality of justice and to eliminate both bias and discrimination. In 1996, the State Bar of Michigan created the State Bar of Michigan Task Force on Race/Ethnic and Gender Issues in the Courts and the Legal Profession. Its mission was to report on the status of the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Task Forces and to develop a strategy for implementing those recommendations as well as identifying new areas of concern. The State Bar of Michigan unanimously adopted the report of the Task Force on Racial/Ethnic and Gender Issues in the Courts and the Legal Profession in 1997. A special emphasis was placed on creating an implementation commission. Entire Report Executive Summary only
Bench/Bar Holidays and Observances Guide "It Isn't Fair if You're Not There" – A Jury Duty Video The 24-minute video entitled, "It Isn't Fair If You're Not There" was created and produced by Genesee County Circuit Judge Joseph J. Farah and a talented committee who worked with him to improve citizen participation and representation in the jury process. This video is a tool to help educate the public about the importance of jury duty. The video is not for juror orientation, but it can be used in Michigan courts, classrooms, town hall meetings, and educational forums to stress the importance of participation in the jury process. It is informative, accurate, realistic, engaging to many different citizen constituencies, and even entertaining.
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