U.S. District judge seeks info on ‘obscenity’ case
A “seminal case involving the prosecution of obscenity in Michigan” has attracted the attention of U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn, a member of the federal bench since 1979.
“I am researching Hamer v. Duncan McCrea, Wayne County Circuit Court Chancery Calendar 278506,” said Cohn, a staunch defender of First Amendment rights. “The case involved an effort to ban ‘To Have and Have Not’ by Ernest Hemingway.”
The Hemingway novel was published in 1937 and revolves around the travails of a fishing boat captain who runs contraband between Cuba and Florida during the Great Depression. The novel, which in 1944 was made into a movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, was viewed as a social commentary on the 1930s and included an underlying theme of Marxist ideology, according to book critics.
“On December 20, 1939, Chief Judge Ira Jayne docketed an opinion in the case,” said Cohn. “If you have knowledge about the case or the opinion, or know where any of Judge Jayne’s papers may be archived, I would appreciate hearing from you.”
Information can be sent to Judge Avern Cohn at the United States District Court, 231 W. Lafayette Blvd., Room 219, Detroit, MI 48226. He can be reached by phone at (313) 234-5160.
Law named to 52-1 District Court in Oakland County
Gov. Rick Snyder this week announced the appointment of T. David Law to the 52-1 District Court in Oakland County.
“Law brings a wide breadth of knowledge to the court,” said Snyder. “I am confident he will do great work as a district judge and serve the people of Oakland County fairly.”
Law has been with the attorney general’s office since 2009 where he worked as an assistant attorney general. He served in the children & youth division representing the Department of Human Services. He also served in the state House of Representatives from 2005 through 2008, representing the West Bloomfield, Commerce Township and Wolverine Lake communities. From 1998 to 2004 Law worked with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office and was in private practice with Sils, Law, Essad, Fiedler and Charboneau PC.
Law serves as a Commerce Township Trustee and is involved in various other community associations. He is a member of the State Bar Association and has been admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court-Eastern District of Michigan. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a degree from the Detroit College of Law.
Law fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Dennis N. Powers. He must seek election in November 2016 for a full six-year term.
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