So, today I heard that the Progressive Women’s Alliance of West Michigan was putting out advertisements claiming that Michigan’s Supreme Court is rated worst in the nation, citing a “study by the University of Chicago Law School.”  The PWA, as well as Michigan Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly, has come out in opposition to Chief Justice Cliff Taylor, who is up for reelection this year (against Diane Hathaway and Robert Roddis), placing much of the blame on that rating on him.

But there’s two major problems with doing that:

Saginaw Valley State University will be the setting for a Michigan Supreme Court oral argument, attended by students representing schools throughout the county.

Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor thanked judges of Saginaw County, local attorneys, and SVSU officials for hosting the Supreme Court.

"We are particularly indebted to Judge Fred L. Borchard; Ms. Lori Bommarito, president of the Saginaw County Bar Association; Ms. Kelli Scorsone, the SCBA's executive director; and Ms. Trish Luplow of the Saginaw County Lawyers' Auxiliary for helping to organize this event, and to SVSU President Eric R. Gilbertson, who graciously offered the university as the setting for our hearing," Taylor said.

The Oct. 22 hearing is expected to draw hundreds of area students, including those from local high schools, SVSU, and Delta College. The oral argument, which begins at 1:30 p.m., will be followed by a reception. Both events, which will take place in SVSU's Curtiss Hall, are open to the public.

The event also highlights the Saginaw County Bar Association's upcoming 150th anniversary in 2009. The SCBA, one of the oldest attorney organizations in the state, will host the Supreme Court justices at a luncheon before the oral argument.

Those who wish to attend oral argument are encouraged to arrive at noon to begin security screening. A second viewing room, where the argument will be shown in simulcast, will be used in case of overflow crowds.

Published:10/7/08  Page:1

By Nick, Section News
Posted on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 10:57:21 AM EST

Have you seen this billboard?  Maybe on the side of a bus?  If you live in or around Grand Rapids the answer will soon be YES.  A big buy was just made and they'll be popping up on busses all over the metro area.  Now, if you're a supporter of Chief Justice Cliff Taylor, and unless you're a personal injury lawyer, on the MDP payroll or a member of the Stryker / Soros whacko-coalition you probably are, you might be surprised that Taylor's court receives such a poor national ranking.
 
Well cheer up, friends.  It doesn't.  The folks who paid for that billboard?  They're lying.  And not just a little white lie.  Not political spin.  Not an exaggeration.  They didn't jump to a conclusion.  They didn't make a mistake.  They didn't take things a step further than they should have.  They are lying.  Through their teeth.  And they're hoping no one notices.  Click here to read the full article.

By Roberta M. Gubbins

Legal News

The nationwide movement to reform jury trial practice came to the attention of Michigan's legal community in 2005 when Michigan Supreme Court Justice Clifford W. Taylor announced on Law Day that May was Juror Appreciation Month. In his speech,Taylor recognized that the "jury was a bulwark against (governmental) tyranny." However, he noted that "many people complain when they're called for jury duty."

CONTACT:  Jared Rodriguez, Vice President Public Policy & Government Affairs Phone: (616) 485-­4312 

Friends of West Michigan Business Support Chief Justice Cliff Taylor’s bid for re­election to the Michigan Supreme Court

GRAND RAPIDS ­ - The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee (PAC), the Friends of West Michigan Business, is pleased to announce its endorsement of Chief Justice Cliff Taylor in his bid for re­election to the Michigan Supreme Court.

“Chief Justice Taylor is the type of Justice that belongs on our Supreme Court; he believes the rule of law is paramount. He doesn’t try to legislate from the bench nor does he bend to the political winds of the day,” said Jeanne Englehart, President & CEO of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. 

As Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Cliff Taylor has led the way in increasing the Court’s transparency and improving its efficiency. Under his watch the number of employees in the Supreme Court is down, and earlier this year, he led charge to end the tradition of providing state cars for appellate judges and Supreme Court justices.

“The Michigan Supreme Court has provided the type of certainty and stability job providers need when making business decisions,” said Jared Rodriguez, Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. “We cannot risk having a Supreme Court where decisions are based on politics and personal agendas. Considering the other challenges facing Michigan, Chief Justice Cliff Taylor is the only choice in this year’s non partisan Supreme Court election.” 

About the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

With more than 120 years of experience creating opportunities for business success, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is the premier business membership organization in West Michigan. Though the area’s largest employers are among its 2,800member businesses, more than 80% of members are small companies with 50 or fewer employees. By helping members connect, grow and succeed, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is a community partner that provides value for members, enhances the business climate in the area, and advocates for public policy that supports economic growth and vitality.

Taylor running for re-election to state’s highest court

By LAYLA ASLANI, DMG Writer

HOUGHTON - The Wall Street Journal has said the Michigan Supreme Court "may be the finest court in the nation."

The chief justice of that court, Cliff Taylor, said he is running for re-election to keep it that way.

Taylor was campaigning in the area Wednesday and today to get people to vote for him on Nov. 4. Planned stops included a Baraga County GOP dinner, Michigan Technological University and meetings with local law enforcement officers and the media.

Taylor is running against Wayne County Circuit Judge Diane Hathaway, who is endorsed by Michigan Democrats. Taylor said people should vote for him to maintain the 4-3 conservative majority in the court.

"By conservative, I don't mean conservative politically," he said, explaining that he has helped the court return to a more traditional and narrow role. "We believe that our job is to say what the law is, not what it ought to be."

Taylor said justices in past Michigan courts, as well as courts in other states, have not always done this. Instead, he said they use their rulings to change the meanings of laws to reflect their opinion. Taylor said he does not do that.

"This is a non-partisan job, so I don't vote my politics on the court," he said.

Taylor graduated from the University of Michigan and has a law degree from George Washington University. Governor John Engler appointed Taylor to the Michigan Supreme Court in August 1997 to fill a seat vacated by a retirement. In 2000, Taylor was re-elected to a full eight-year term. In 2005 and 2007, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as the chief justice.

Taylor said while he has been on the court, it has decreased the amount of frivolous lawsuits in the state, made the judicial system more transparent by posting opinions online the day they are released and holding court outside of Lansing.

Additionally, Taylor said the court has defended private property rights. He cited a particular case, Hathcock v. Wayne County, as a case in which the court defended landowners' rights. In that case, officials tried to condemn private property near the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to make room for businesses. Although the move would have increased the tax base for the local government, Taylor said the court ruled eminent domain could not be used for economic development that primarily benefits the private sector.

Taylor said the court receives between 2,000 and 3,000 petitions a year and chooses a limited amount to hear.

"We try to pick cases in which the law is unclear or wrong," he said.

Taylor said he led a movement to have judges in the Appeals Court and on the Supreme Court return their state-issued cars when state money was tight in 2007.

"We've really tried to be careful with the public's money," he said. "We were the only branch to change our operations to save money."

Taylor said this will be his last time running for the Supreme Court, as he will be 74 years old when his term ends and Michigan law prohibits people over 70 from running for Supreme Court.

Taylor plans to also visit Marquette, Escanaba, Newberry, Iron Mountain and Sault Ste. Marie on his swing through the Upper Peninsula.

For more information about Taylor, visit his Web site clifftaylor.com.

Layla Aslani can be reached a laslani@mininggazette.com

Members of the MSU community should vote to re-elect Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor this November. With most of the attention focused on the presidential election, few people will notice this important, nonpartisan position. However, voting for this “down ballot” office still is very important.

Michigan Supreme Court decisions have a major impact on our economy. Re-electing Justice Taylor would continue the simple, stable jurisprudence the current court is producing. Stable laws are good for business and help businesses plan and grow. Michigan needs every advantage it can get to turn its economy around.

Taylor also is endorsed by the Michigan State Medical Society and the Police Officers Association of Michigan. I encourage the entire MSU community to become informed about this election.

Jason Miller

2005 MSU graduate

Published on Wednesday, September 17, 2008
 

Michigan Democrats nominated Diane Hathawy this past weekend to run against CTV-PAC-endorsed Chief Justice Cliff Taylor for the Michigan Supreme Court in November. Read about it here.

Join CTV's Clergy For a Conservative Court! We've launched a statewide effort to spread the word about the effect of the Courts on traditional values. This exciting movement, headed by pastors and other Michigan leaders, is open to all. You don't have to be a member of the clergy to get on board. Join here.

We're less than 60 days from the election. Forward this to your friends so they can sign up for the CTV email list here.