Daily Briefs

Juvenile Court closed because of heat


DETROIT (AP) — It’s too hot for justice.

Authorities canceled hearings Monday in Wayne County Juvenile Court because of “extreme temperatures” inside the building in Detroit.

Weather forecasters are predicting a high of 90 degrees outside the court. High temps should be in the 80s for the rest of the week.

 

Cooley Law professor  interviewed for new legal writing series


The Ontario Bar Association recently interviewed Joseph Kimble, a distinguished professor emeritus at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, to kick off the first column of its new legal-writing series, titled “Choice Words.”

As part of the association’s legal magazine, JUST, “Choice Words” is a platform for legal writers to debate and educate one another about legal writing. In the interview, Kimble described good legal writing and why it matters, provided tips on how young lawyers can improve their writing, and addressed challenges that writers face.

When asked why plain language is needed in legal writing, Kimble responded, “Because lawyers think and write and speak for a living. And good communicators deliver their message as clearly and concisely and accurately as possible. That’s what plain language is all about.”

Kimble is the longtime editor of the “Plain Language” column in the Michigan Bar Journal and the senior editor of The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing, published by Scribes (the American Society of Legal Writers). Kimble has published dozens of articles on legal writing and written two acclaimed books: “Lifting the Fog of Legalese: Essays on Plain Language” and “Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please: The Case for Plain Language in Business, Government, and Law.”

Kimble joined WMU-Cooley in 1984. He is a past president of Clarity, an international organization promoting plain legal language in law, and a founding director of the Center for Plain Language, which rewards clear communication and shames “complex, confusing or just plain bad writing and the companies that produce them.”

 

Lenawee Judge: I’m out for 6 months for sexual harassment
 

ADRIAN, Mich. (AP) — A Lenawee County judge accused of sexually harassing a female employee says he’s been suspended without pay for six months.

Probate Judge Gregg Iddings says he was notified last week by the Michigan Supreme Court.

Court spokesman John Nevin told The Daily Telegram that the Supreme Court’s order is sealed. It’s unclear why the court would suspend a judge in a confidential order.

Iddings’ treatment of a woman in his office led to her resignation and a financial settlement with Lenawee County. There’s no dispute that he made comments suggesting they should have an affair.

Iddings showed her a sexually suggestive YouTube video and said her work outfits were “too sexy.”

He says his treatment of the woman was “unacceptable.” The judge’s wife, Adrienne Iddings, put out her own statement, calling the suspension “draconian.”

––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available