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April 2026

April 10 Mark the Date

Autism-Responsive Child Welfare Courts’ focus of webinar
April 10
The National Center for State Courts will present a webinar on “Building Autism-Responsive Child Welfare Courts” Friday, April 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom.
In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, this Family-Centered Friday session spotlights Pennsylvania's Autism and the Courts initiative which brings together judicial and system leaders to strengthen dependency courts' response to children and families impacted by autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As the first state in the nation to take this focused, court-led approach, Pennsylvania has developed practical education, tools, and resources to help judges and court staff promote meaningful access to justice.
Attendees will learn about the work happening across Pennsylvania and take away concrete resources and strategies that support autism-responsive child welfare court practice and ongoing system improvement.
Speaking at the webinar will be:
• Christy R. Stanek, deputy director, Office of Children and Families in the Courts, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts
• Judge Ryan M. Tira, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
• Moderator Angela Sager, senior court management consultant, NCSC
To register for the webinar, visit www.ncsc.org and click on “Education &?events.”

‘Client Intake and Screening’ explored during webinar
April 14
The National Business Institute will present a live video webinar on “Client Intake and Screening: Strategies for Avoiding and Addressing Conflicts ” Tuesday, April 14, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Imagine walking into a client meeting fully confident that you’ve screened for every possible conflict and established trust before any signatures are signed. In this rapid-fire course, the veteran faculty provides attorneys with the knowledge they need to do just that.
The webinar will cover such topics as:
• Effective Client Intake: Best Practices and Malpractice Traps
• Identifying Conflicts: When to Conduct Checks, Info to Collect, etc.
• Assessing Clients and Matters: Key Steps to Mitigate Risks
• Engagement Letters: Key Terms and Tips for Managing Expectations
• Addressing Conflicts (Including Conflict Waiver Best Practices)
Cost for the webinar, which includes course book download, is $199. To register, call 1-800-930-6182 or visit www.nbi-sems.com.

Webinar presented by MDTC Appellate Section
April 14
The Appellate Section of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC) will present the webinar “Preserve It or Lose It: Creating a Record that Works” Tuesday, April 14, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
The path to a successful appeal begins in the trial court. In this panel presentation, appellate attorneys will discuss some of the record-building decisions that can control the outcomes on appeal and what they often wished happened at the trial court level. Intended for both trial and appellate practitioners, this presentation will provide insight into protecting issues for review, framing arguments strategically, and creating a record that withstands appellate scrutiny.
The webinar’s panel will feature:
• Phillip J. DeRosier, Dickinson Wright PLLC
• Drew W. Broaddus, Smith Haughey
• Adam T. Ratliff, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
• Nathan S. Scherbarth, Zausmer PC
• Moderator Grant O. Jaskulski, Hewson & Van Hellemont PC
To register for the webinar, visit www.mdtc.org and click on “events.”

Annual MAJ Women’s Caucus Judicial Mixer hosted
April 14
The Michigan Association for Justice Women’s Caucus will host its 8th Annual Women’s Caucus Judicial Mixer “Sip &?Socialize” on Tuesday, April 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hazel’s, 1 Peabody Street in Birmingham.
Space for this event is limited and registration is required. To register, visit www.michiganjustice.org and click on “events.”
Anyone with questions may contact Laura Hornshaw at lhornshaw@michiganjustice.org or 517-321-3073.

Webinar looks at ‘Building a Data-Literate Workforce’ for courts
April 14
The National Center for State Courts continues its Data Dives webinar series with “Future-Ready Courts: Building a Data-Literate Workforce” on Tuesday, April 14, from 3 to 4 p.m. via Zoom.
As technology and analytic advancements rapidly emerge, courts must embrace a data-driven mindset to be future-ready.? Developing a data-literate workforce that uses and communicates with data to generate insights, optimize performance, and sustain key values is critical for success.
This webinar provides more about NCSC’s new national curriculum designed to build a workforce that is adept at data sleuthing, visualizing and sharing data, and understanding the ethics inherent with court data.??
Speaking at the webinar will be:
• Miriam Hamilton, senior court research analyst, NCSC
• Mitchell Redd, data analyst, Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts
• Cassandra Reed, judicial programs administrator, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts
• Moderator Nicole Waters, director of data, analytics & forecasting, NCSC
To register for the webinar, visit www.ncsc.org and click on “Education &?events.”

‘Nuts & Bolts of an OWI Case’ offered online
April 15
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan will present the Traffic Safety Training Program webinar “Nuts & Bolts of an OWI Case” on Wednesday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to noon via Zoom.
Officers handling Operating While Intoxicated cases must have a solid foundation of the “nuts and bolts” of these types of investigations. Having a solid foundation of the basics will allow officers to build on their OWI investigative skills as they advance in their careers.
This training will cover all the “nuts and bolts” that go into making a solid and complete OWI investigation that will help prosecutors hold impaired driving offenders responsible for their dangerous actions.
Prosecutors and city attorneys handling OWI cases also need to have a solid understanding of how law enforcement officers investigate these cases so that they can effectively present them in court to a jury and work with officers to provide proper testimony on direct examination, how to admit chemical test results at trial, and how to prepare the officer for cross examination on the witness stand.
The webinar will cover:
• OWI Detection Phases
• How to Recognize a Drugged Driver and the Seven Drug Categories
• Surviving the Courtroom
This webinar is designed for prosecutors, law enforcement, and traffic safety partners.
To register for this free webinar, visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on “training.”

Bar association plans ‘Gilman Award’ lunch
April 15
The Eastern District of Michigan Bar Association will host the “2026 Leonard R. Gilman Award Luncheon” on Wednesday, April 15, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Westin Book Cadillac, 1114 Washington Boulevard in Detroit.
The event celebrates the ideals of excellence, professionalism, and commitment to public service embodied by Len Gilman and this year’s award recipient.
The Gilman Award is given annually to an outstanding practitioner of criminal law who exemplifies the excellence, professionalism, and commitment to public service of U.S. Attorney Len Gilman. Alan Gershel wrote of him, “As the United States attorney (Len) instilled a level of excellence, professionalism and commitment to public service that exists to his day… (and) his presence is felt everyday in numerous, often subtle ways. Whether it be in the recognition that depriving a person of his liberty is an awesome responsibility that requires the utmost care or in the treating of others with respect, his influence is never far.
“Lenny was the paradigm of what a prosecutor should be. He balanced aggressive advocacy with compassion,” Gershel noted. “While he always took his work seriously he never took himself too seriously. A smile and self-deprecating sense of humor could disarm the most strong-willed adversary.”
To register for the luncheon, visit https://edmibar.org and click on “events.”

Panel looks at ‘How Judges Are Using GenAI’
April 15
The National Center for State Courts will present a webinar on “How Judges Are Using GenAI” on Wednesday, April 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom.
As generative AI tools become increasingly prevalent across professional fields, judges and court systems are beginning to explore how this technology can support—and potentially transform—judicial work. This webinar, based on original interview research conducted with state and federal judges across the U.S., explores how early-adopting judges are currently using GenAI, what benefits they are experiencing, and what risks they are actively working to mitigate. The panel of experts will offer practical, real-world insights on GenAI adoption for judicial officers and other court leaders and practitioners.
After the webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Describe how Gen AI is being used by judges
2. Identify risks and benefits of GenAI use by judges
3. Implement practical strategies for the secure and ethical use of GenAI tools in judicial tasks
Speaking at the webinar will be:
• Dr. Amy Cyphert, associate professor of law, West Virginia University
• U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Maritza Braswell, District of Colorado
• Dr. Jennifer Elek, Principal Court Research Associate, NCSC
• Moderator Rabihah Butler, manager, Enterprise Content - Risk, Fraud, and Government, Thomson Reuters Institute
This webinar is presented by the TRI/NCSC AI Policy Consortium for Law & Courts. To register, visit www.ncsc.org and click on “Education &?events.”

Youth violence prevention projust focus of webinar
April 15
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan’s Juvenile Justice &?School Safety Training Project will present the webinar “WeLIVE: Law Enforcement + Community = Empowering Individuals & Transforming Communities” on Wednesday, April 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom.
This webinar will take a look at WeLIVE (Washtenaw Embraces Life is Valuable Everyday), a community violence intervention within the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). Attendees will learn about the services available, how they are provided, and how this model may work in your community. WeLIVE focuses on young people and is a combined hospital- and community-based intervention. It offers support to break cycles of violence and promote healing.
Presenters at the webinar will be:
• Commander H. Eugene Rush, WCSO
• Roger Roper, WeLIVE program coordinator
• Marvin Gundy, WCSO, community outreach coordinator
There is no charge to attend but advance registration is required. To register, prosecutors and APAs should visit https://michiganprose cutor.org and click on “Training Calendar.”

SBM President Hamameh to be honored at NAABA-MI event
April 15
The National Arab American Bar Association Michigan Chapter (NAABA-MI) will host its 4th Annual Khalta to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month on Wednesday, April 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at The Atheneum, 1000 Brush St. in Detroit.
During the event, NAABA-MI will present the Arab American Heritage Month Legacy Award to Lisa Hamameh in honor of her historic election as the 91st President of the State Bar of Michigan. Hamameh is the first Palestinian American to hold this position.
Hors d’oeuvres will be provided and a cash bar will be available. Semi-formal and business casual attire is recommended. To register for the event, visit https://naabamichigan.org/events.

Judges featured in ‘A Path to the Bench’
April 16
Wayne State University Law School will present “A Path to The Bench” on Thursday, April 16, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Wayne Law’s Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium, 471 W. Palmer Ave. in Detroit.
Wayne Law’s American Constitution Society provides this opportunity to hear from Michigan judges about their path to the bench. Invited speakers include:
• Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Welch
• Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Adrienne N. Young
• Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Dan Korobkin
For additional information about this program, visit https://law.wayne.edu and scroll down to “events.”

Law firm cybersecurity readiness focus of webinar
April 16
The Oakland County Bar Association will present the professional development webinar “Too Small to Be a Target Cybersecurity Readiness and Litigation Fallout for Law Firms” online Thursday, April 16, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
Many smaller law firms assume they are unlikely targets for cyberattacks — but attackers often see them as easy marks. This seminar offers both preventive and post-incident perspectives.
The presenters will address cybersecurity risks for smaller firms, practical safeguards, training, and the role of cyber insurance. They will also examine what happens after a breach, including how forensic findings and security systems become evidence in discovery disputes, expert reports, insurance coverage fights, and potential malpractice claims.
Speaking at the webinar will be Rob Cote, president, Security Vitals; Brandon Fannon, managing director of Digital Forensics & E-Discovery, Axis Discovery LLC; and moderator Linda D. Kennedy, Panagos Kennedy PLLC.
Cost for the seminar is $30 for OCBA members; $20 for committee members; $20 for OCBA new lawyers and paralegals; $15 for OCBA students; and $45 for non-members.
To register for the webinar, visit www.ocba.org and click on “events.”

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