Daily Briefs

Suburban Detroit judge suspended 45 days without pay


LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered a 45-day unpaid suspension for a suburban Detroit judge who was arrested for suspected drunken driving before being elected to the bench.

The court Thursday affirmed a decision by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission that determined Oakland County Circuit Judge Julie McDonald didn’t observe the law and conduct herself “in a manner which would enhance the public’s confidence in the integrity of the judiciary.”

McDonald waived her rights before the commission and consented to a sanction no greater than the 45-day suspension without pay.

She was a judicial candidate Sept. 8 when police saw her toss something from her car and turn without signaling. Police recorded a 0.08 blood-alcohol level at which a motorist is considered intoxicated.

McDonald began a six-year term in January.

 

Nessel joins 3 multi-state comment letters
 

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined attorneys general from across the U.S. in three multi-state comment letters opposing weakened student protections and proposed federal environmental rules, including:

• For-Profit College Accountability

Nessel joined 19 attorneys general earlier this month in a comment letter to the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee urging the committee to close loopholes in federal laws that entice for-profit schools to heavily market to veterans, often using high-pressure and deceptive sales tactics. As a result, veterans are disproportionally harmed when these schools violate consumer protection laws, offer low-quality or inadequate certificate and degree programs, or close abruptly leaving students burdened with heavy debt and low prospects for gainful employment.

• Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

On April 19, 2019, Nessel joined 20 attorneys general in filing comments taking issue with the EPA’s proposed rule that finds regulating mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from coal-fired power plants is neither appropriate nor necessary. The multi-state coalition urges the EPA retain current Mercury and Air Standards, something it deemed appropriate and necessary in a supplemental finding in 2016.

“Coal-fired plants are still operational in Michigan,” Nessel said. ”Failing to keep in place important regulations that protect our residents from hazardous chemicals is simply common sense.”

• Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS)

Nessel joined 14 attorneys general on April 15, 2019, who submitted comments on the Trump administration’s rollback of federal jurisdiction and protections over many wetlands and smaller streams and lakes currently protected under the Clean Water Act.

“The Clean Water Act serves as a backstop for Michigan, protecting our state from those who seek to dial back Michigan’s most stringent regulations on the Great Lakes and our thousands of waterways across the state,” Nessel said. “This proposed rule change is watered-down policy that fails to protect the very waters we are entrusted with.”

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