COMMITTEES UPDATE

BY KATE WEAVER (OAKLAND)

Ethics Committee, Referee Ilyssa Cimmino (Oakland), shares the committee voted on adopting an FAQ regarding Judge’s receiving free lunches at Educational Events put on by specialty groups, (i.e.) police organizations.  Also, the ethics committee created a Judicial Law Clerks Resource.  The resource is out for a vote with another committee but should be adopted and published shortly. The committee is looking to create a group to come up with an Opinion regarding what’s permitted re Judges Fundraising for Specialty Courts
 
Juvenile Justice Partnership Committee, Referee Patrick O’Meara of Oakland County and Katelyn Andrews of Ottawa County are the representatives on this committee.  Referee O’Meara reports there was a presentation from officials in Wayne County about their Status Offender Diversion Program. The presenters were Toielynn Smith, [email protected] , and Sonya Ristic, [email protected]. They have had over 70 participants and have achieved good results. This was very encouraging because status offenders can be some of the more difficult cases a juvenile referee will handle.
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There is a customized screening tool in development to eventually replace the Michigan Juvenile Justice Assessment System (MJJAS) screening tool. Its implementation is years away, but they are working to improve the MJJAS.
 
Finally, there has been an amendment to MCR 3.942. It took effect on May 1, 2026. The amended rule requires that, in delinquency bench trials, the hearing officer must make findings of fact and conclusions of law on the record or in a written opinion. It also allows defense counsel to move for a directed verdict at the close of the prosecutor’s case-in-chief.
 
There is also a proposed amendment, which is nearly certain to be adopted, to MCR 3.972. It is still in the comment phase, but it is analogous to MCR 3.942. It would require findings of fact and conclusions of law to be made on the record or in writing, and it would allow for dismissal at the close of the petitioner’s case-in-chief.

 
Commission on Wellness in the Law, Referee Patricia (Patty) Woodruff (Wayne) reports the Commission’s Executive Committee met at the end of May 2026 to discuss where the Commission stands since the Michigan Task Force on Well-Being in the Law issued its’ report and recommendations in August 2023. There have been new commissioners appointed and the Commission is looking to review its’ work and pivot to new projects within the scope of the Commission’s mission. As a reminder, the purpose of the Commission is:
 
“The mission of the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program (LJAP) is to protect the public by providing confidential assistance to impaired attorneys, judges, and law students with mental health and/or substance use concerns and assist those who seek to improve their overall well-being. LJAP works to educate the bench, bar, and law schools on topics related to well-being in the legal profession, including prevention of conditions that might negatively impact the field of law, to reduce the stigma associated with help-seeking behaviors, and to emphasize that well-being is an indispensable part of a lawyer’s duty of competence.”
 
Our next Commission-wide meeting will be held on September 2, 2026 at the Michigan Hall of Justice.
 
Family Law Council, The Council is still focused on Dedicated Family.  They are still working on having legislation proposed. 
 
Here is the link to the meeting page for anyone who wants it: 
https://connect.michbar.org/familylaw/events/recentcommunityeventsdashboard 
 
Here is the upcoming schedule.  Note, the meetings are back to Saturday/Sunday as mid-week meetings did not result in more participants.

• Saturday, 19 September 2026: Annual Dinner, Detroit, Cambria Hotel, 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, 20 September 2026: Annual Meeting then Council Meeting, Detroit, Cambria Hotel, 9:00 a.m.

​Children’s Law Section, Referee Matthew Hagen of Grand Traverse County is the RAM liaison with the Children’s Law Section.  He reports CLS voted to oppose HB 5445 (the proposed bill that would require a Family Division judge to have related experience or training before taking the bench).
 
CLS voted to support SB 885 (the proposed bill to establish a State Commission to oversee Child Legal Representation; it's basically like the Commission that oversees the MIDC).