Age limit for judges survives legal challenge
FLINT (AP) — A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to Michigan’s age limit for judges.
Candidates can’t run for election if they’re 70 or older. Genesee County Judge Michael Theile can’t run again in 2020 because he’ll be 71.
He says the age limit in Michigan’s Constitution is irrational, noting there’s no age restrictions on governors, state lawmakers or federal judges.
The appeals court found Theile’s arguments to be eloquent, but it said it must follow the results of similar cases.
The court and the U.S. Supreme Court have upheld age restrictions in the past.
The Supreme Court said Missouri’s age limit was rationally related to concerns about judges’ mental fitness.
Gun-toting Santa suing over loss of state job
DETROIT (AP) — A man who says his career suffered after he posted a photo of himself wearing a Santa Claus costume and holding a semi-automatic rifle has cleared a key hurdle in a lawsuit against the state of Michigan.
Calvin Congden’s lawsuit can proceed on his First Amendment claim and other arguments. Federal Judge Mark Goldsmith released a decision Tuesday.
Congden, an Army veteran, worked for Michigan’s Child Protective Services division. He says he lost favor with managers after posting his Santa photo on Facebook.
Congden says a manager told co-workers that he “looked crazy” and warned them to be careful. The state says Congden eventually resigned under a settlement with his union.
Congden says the state illegally retaliated against him because of his Facebook post and complaints to others.
Supreme Court rejects inmate’s appeal in triple slaying
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined the appeal of an Ohio inmate who has long maintained his innocence in the 1994 slaying of three people.
The court’s Tuesday decision involves the case of Kevin Keith, 54. He is serving a life sentence for killing two women and a 4-year-old girl in what prosecutors said was retaliation for his arrest in a drug sweep.
Lawyers for Keith say the personnel file of a state forensics investigator who worked on his case contains allegations she had a habit of providing police departments answers they wanted in cases.
Attorneys for Keith, who is black, also say the file shows the investigator used racial slurs against co-workers.
Prosecutors say there’s no evidence the file would have made a difference at trial.
In the mood for a melody, commuters sing ‘Piano Man’
HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (AP) — A group of New York commuters got together around "9 o'clock on a Saturday" and sang a rendition of Billy Joel's famous ballad, "Piano Man."
A video posted on Twitter captured nearly everyone aboard the Long Island Railroad train bound for Huntington singing in unison to the song on May 19.
Professional tennis player Julia Elbaba — who posted the video — says she was on the train talking with a man who mentioned he was in a Billy Joel tribute band.
Elbaba says she sang a few bars with the man and soon, the whole car was singing.
––––––––––––––––––––
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
