Daily Briefs

ABA explores legal issues underlying threats to revoke broadcast licenses


The American Bar Association updated its web-based ABA Legal Fact Check today with a look at the legal framework involving renewals of broadcast licenses. This comes in the wake of the tweeted suggestion by President Donald Trump that NBC’s broadcast license should be challenged because of its reporting on his administration.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an independent agency, serves as the chief regulator of local broadcast and radio stations and has adopted an extremely high bar for the process of reviewing broadcast licenses, particularly as it pertains to news content. In the past, the FCC has acted chiefly in cases related to obscene or indecent speech, on grounds of “character qualifications” of owners or when approved licenses remain dormant.

ABA Legal Fact Check debuted in August and is the first fact check website focusing exclusively on legal matters. The project is one of several initiatives launched by Hilarie Bass, who became ABA president on Aug. 15 at the close of the ABA Annual Meeting in New York.

ABA Legal Fact Check seeks to help the public find dependable answers and explanations to swirling and sometimes confusing legal questions. The URL for the new site is www.abalegalfactcheck.com.

 

Michigan Legislature keeps 0.08 alcohol limit until 2021
 

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Legislature has approved bills that will continue the state's 0.08 blood-alcohol limit for drunken driving until 2021.

The limit was set to return to 0.10 in October 2018, putting federal funding at risk unless lawmakers acted. Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to sign the legislation that won final, unanimous passage Tuesday.

Legislators moved to the 0.08 blood-alcohol level in 2003 but have put a sunset provision in the law so the issue is revisited. Under the latest legislation, the limit will rise to 0.10 in October 2021 unless lawmakers amend the law again.

 

Detroit Bench/Bar  No-Fault and Auto Negligence Discussion


Join the judges of the Civil Division of the 3rd Circuit Court for dialogue and a panel discussion of current no-fault and auto negligence issues and innovative court programs designed to support the bar in optimal use of the court. They will meet at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 for registration and networking (with refreshments available) in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 13th floor auditorium, 2 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. The program will begin at 1 p.m. and adjourn at 2:30 p.m. Cost for the event is $10 for attorney members of the Detroit Bar Association and $15 for non-member attorneys. Judicial officers and law students may attend free if pre-registered. Register at www.detroitlawyer.org.

For more information contact Darlene Trudell at dtrudell@detroitlawyer.org.

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