Public Policy Resource Center

The Public Policy Resource Center is a member resource and tool designed to provide comprehensive, up-to-date public policy information of interest to the legal profession. The site provides a search function that permits you to view all legislation organized by specialty area as it is introduced, identify the appropriate official to contact to communicate your views, and keep track of the public policy initiatives of the State Bar and its entities.

September 19, 2025
Board of Commissioners
Public Policy Items To Be Considered

Members who wish to share comments on any of the items below may do so by filling out a Public Policy Comment form or emailing ntriplett@michbar.org before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

  1. Court Rule Amendments
  1. ADM File No. 2021-29: Proposed Amendment of MCR 6.201

The proposed amendment of MCR 6.201 would require, before providing a police report or interrogation record to the defendant, redaction of personal identifying information and information otherwise protected under the rule.

  1. Model Criminal Jury Instructions
  1. M Crim JI 1.10

The Committee proposes a new preliminary instruction, M Crim JI 1.10 (Referring to Jurors By Number) that would direct jurors not to draw any inferences from the use of juror numbers in lieu of names.

  1. M Crim JI 3.17, 3.18, 3.20, 3.22

The Committee proposes amending M Crim JI 3.17 (Single Defendant-Single Count), M Crim JI 3.18 (Multiple Defendants-Single Count), M Crim JI 3.20 (Single Defendant-Multiple Counts-More Than One Wrongful Act), and M Crim JI 3.22 (Multiple Defendants-Multiple Counts-More Than One Wrongful Act) to present the possible verdicts in a consistent sequence, with “not guilty” appearing as the first option.

  1. M Crim JI 16.1, 16.4 thru 16.8, 16.10, 16.11, 17.3

The Committee proposes amending the following instructions to eliminate an unnecessary element: M Crim JI 16.1 (First-degree Premeditated Murder), M Crim JI 16.4 (First-degree Felony Murder), M Crim JI 16.5 (Second Degree Murder), M Crim JI 16.6 (Element Chart First-degree Premeditated Murder and Second-degree Murder), M Crim JI 16.7 (Element Chart First-degree Felony Murder and Second-degree Murder), M Crim JI 16.8 (Voluntary Manslaughter), M Crim JI 16.10 (Involuntary Manslaughter), M Crim JI 16.11 (Involuntary Manslaughter – Firearm Intentionally Aimed), and M Crim JI 17.3 (Assault with Intent to Murder). The proposal primarily serves as a response to People v Spears, 346 Mich App 494 (2023), lv den ___ Mich ___ (December 13, 2024) (Docket No. 165768). Additionally, M Crim JI 16.8 has been modified for greater consistency with M Crim JI 16.9, and M Crim JI 16.11 has been modified to remove duplicative language and to reflect statutory involuntary manslaughter’s status as a cognate lesser included offense of murder, see MCL 750.329; People v Smith, 478 Mich 64 (2007).

  1. M Crim JI 20.38, 20.38a, 20.38b, 20.38c

The Committee proposes amending M Crim JI 20.38 (Child Sexually Abusive Activity – Causing or Allowing), M Crim JI 20.38a (Child Sexually Abusive Activity – Producing), M Crim JI 20.38b (Child Sexually Abusive Activity – Distributing), and M Crim JI 20.38c (Child Sexually Abusive Activity – Possessing or Accessing) to account for the sentencing enhancements added by the Legislature in 2019. This proposal would also modify the title of each instruction to more accurately describe the offense at issue.

Public Policy & the State Bar

Because the State Bar of Michigan is a mandatory bar association, the Bar can only advocate public policy positions that are reasonably related to:

  1. the regulation and discipline of attorneys;

  2. the improvement of the functioning of the courts;

  3. the availability of legal services to society;

  4. the regulation of attorney trust accounts; and

  5. the regulation of the legal profession, including the education, the ethics, the competency, and the integrity of the profession.

Sections of the State Bar that are funded by voluntary dues are not subject to these restrictions, and may engage in ideological activities on their own behalf provided that they follow the policies and procedures in Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order 2004-01 and in Article VIII of the Bylaws of the State Bar of Michigan.

Administrative Order 2004-01 limits and describes the issues on which the State Bar may take public policy positions, and the process for section and member involvement.

Article VIII of the Bylaws of the State Bar of Michigan governs public policy advocacy by sections and committees of the State Bar.

Member Comments

Submit comments on pending public policy issues.
Members are encouraged to submit comments on pending public policy issues, including proposed court rules and legislation that is eligible to be considered by the Board of Commissioners for action. All comments received from members will be shared with the Board of Commissioners and/or Representative Assembly when they consider that public policy item.

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