Electronic ballots for State Bar elections to be sent out this month

Michigan attorneys will receive electronic ballots later this month for contested races in the 2026 State Bar elections. Ballots will be sent prior to the Memorial Day weekend. 

All voting is conducted online, and polls close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 15.  

All active members will receive their personal ballot, which is personalized to include the races in which they are eligible to vote. 

To ensure prompt delivery of a ballot, members should verify the email they have on file with the State Bar of Michigan is correct by logging in to the online Member Area at michbar.org/MemberArea.

AI, defamation, 1st Amendment discussed online

The American Bar Association will present a webinar on “AI, Defamation, and the First Amendment” on Tuesday, May 12, from 1 to 2 p.m.

AI is everywhere now and the world of defamation and the First Amendment is no exception. This program will explore who may be held liable when defamatory content is produced or amplified by AI systems, including developers, deployers, publishers, platforms, and end users, and how existing doctrines such as actual malice, negligence, and strict liability may be argued in this new context.

Those attending the webinar will:

• Have a better understanding of the role AI technologies are playing in today’s media.

• Learn how traditional defamation principles translate to AI-generated and AI-assisted content.

• Be able to analyze how AI may impact defamation cases going forward.

Cost for the webinar is $130. To register, visit www.americanbar.org and click on “events.”

Section conducts Day of Education 
in Farmington Hills
The Paralegal/Legal Assistant Section of the State Bar of Michigan will conduct its 2026 Day of Education on Friday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Oakland County Community College, 27055 Orchard Lake Rd. in Farmington Hills.
The event will feature an insider look at how the courts really work;  trial preparation in action; updates on paralegal licensing; core skills for everyday practice; sign-ups for complimentary headshots.
The event is $25 for section members, $35 for non-members, and $10 for current paralegal students. To register, visit https://connect.michbar.org/paralegal/home. For additional information, email  sbmiparalegal@gmail.com.

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