Daily Briefs, November 30

Association of Defense Trial Counsel plans its holiday meeting
The Association of Defense Trial Counsel will host its annual holiday meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13, with cocktails and a buffet dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. at Amnesia nightclub on the 16th floor of the Motor City Casino hotel. Cost for the event it $50 for ADTC members and $55 for non-members. Price includes two drink tickets, entertainment by Keith Malinowski Duo, and complimentary valet parking. To confirm attendance, call Diane Hirshey at (313) 237-0610.

State Legislature approves anti-bullying law for schools
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan will soon have a law requiring schools to adopt anti-bullying policies, after the Senate approved the bill Tuesday.

It has already passed the House and will soon be sent to Republican Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature. Snyder advocated the law.

The Senate’s 35-2 vote approving the measure ended a years-long stalemate on the issue. Schools will have six months from the new law’s effective date to adopt anti-bullying policies.

The bill does not include a clause from a previous Senate version that critics said would have allowed religious-based verbal harassment. But the bill also is not detailed enough and does not include enough reporting requirements for some supporters of anti-bullying policies.

Post-verdict questioning of jurors focus of proposed rule changes
Jurors could not be questioned about the basis for their verdict or jury deliberation details by “[a]ttorneys, parties, or anyone acting for them or on their behalf” without court permission, under a proposed court rule change (ADM File No. 2010-12) on the Michigan Supreme Court’s November 30 administrative hearing agenda.

Courts would allow post-verdict juror questioning only on “a formal motion … with the court” under the proposed change to Michigan Court Rule 2.512; the change would also allow the court to “conduct such interrogation [of jurors] in lieu of granting permission to the movant.” A related change to Michigan Rule of Evidence 606 would not allow a juror to testify or give a sworn statement “as to any matter or statement occurring during … deliberations or to the effect of anything upon that or any other juror’s mind or emotions … or mental processes” related to a verdict or indictment. But jurors would be allowed to testify regarding any “extraneous prejudicial information” or outside influences that could have improperly affected the jury, and about mistakes jurors made on the verdict form.

The public hearing will take place in the Michigan Supreme Court courtroom on the sixth floor of the Michigan Hall of Justice, 925 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing; the hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. and adjourn no later than 11:30 a.m.

Proposed rules changes and related comments, are online at http://www.courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt/Resources/Administrative/index.htm#proposed.

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