Michigan Case Commentaries

Prospective Constitutional Relief, State Officers, and the Court of Claims Act Notice Provision: Commentary on Michigan Immigrant Rights Center v. Governor

Date: Dec 14, 2025

Prospective Constitutional Relief, State Officers, and the Court of Claims Act Notice Provision: Commentary on Michigan Immigrant Rights Center v. Governor I. Introduction The Michigan Supreme...

Procedural Management of Complex Infrastructure Litigation: The Michigan Supreme Court’s Time‑Extension Order in Dubrulle v. Great Lakes Water Authority

Date: Dec 14, 2025

Procedural Management of Complex Infrastructure Litigation: The Michigan Supreme Court’s Time‑Extension Order in Dubrulle v. Great Lakes Water Authority I. Introduction The document reproduced above...

Michigan Supreme Court Signals Reexamination of Appellate Review for Best-Interests Determinations in Termination of Parental Rights

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Michigan Supreme Court Signals Reexamination of Appellate Review for Best-Interests Determinations in Termination of Parental Rights Introduction In In re Blevins/Dials/Holland, Minors, the Michigan...

Zeller and the Post‑MRTMA Landscape: Limits on Canine Alerts and the Demise of Jones Under Jardines

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Zeller and the Post‑MRTMA Landscape: Limits on Canine Alerts and the Demise of Jones Under Jardines Introduction In People of Michigan v. Michael David Zeller, the Michigan Supreme Court denied leave...

When Does a Non‑GTLA Statute Override Governmental Immunity? Chief Justice Cavanagh’s Proposed Four‑Factor Framework for CPL Mandatory‑Reporter Claims

Date: Nov 16, 2025

When Does a Non‑GTLA Statute Override Governmental Immunity? Chief Justice Cavanagh’s Proposed Four‑Factor Framework for CPL Mandatory‑Reporter Claims Introduction In Robert Brian Thomas Ruee Adams...

Articulation, Not Hunch: Denial of Leave in People v. Duff Leaves COA Ruling Intact; Dissent Reasserts Particularized, Experience‑Based Reasonable Suspicion for Parked‑Vehicle Seizures

Date: Nov 2, 2025

Articulation, Not Hunch: Denial of Leave in People v. Duff Leaves COA Ruling Intact; Dissent Reasserts Particularized, Experience‑Based Reasonable Suspicion for Parked‑Vehicle Seizures Introduction...

Guardrails for Video Evidence: Michigan Supreme Court Signals Limits on Non‑Perceiving Officer Narration (People v. Johnson)

Date: Nov 2, 2025

Guardrails for Video Evidence: Michigan Supreme Court Signals Limits on Non‑Perceiving Officer Narration (People v. Johnson) Introduction In People of Michigan v. Trashawn Demarqus Johnson (SC...

People v. James: In Bench Trials, Improper 404(b) Other‑Acts Evidence Is Not Harmless When the Factfinder Relies on It to Resolve a One‑on‑One Credibility Contest

Date: Oct 16, 2025

People v. James: In Bench Trials, Improper 404(b) Other‑Acts Evidence Is Not Harmless When the Factfinder Relies on It to Resolve a One‑on‑One Credibility Contest Court: Supreme Court of Michigan...

Confrontation Beyond “Similar Motive”: Michigan Supreme Court flags distinct constitutional and evidentiary inquiries and questions diligence when cooperators go missing

Date: Oct 9, 2025

Confrontation Beyond “Similar Motive”: The Michigan Supreme Court flags distinct constitutional and evidentiary inquiries and questions diligence when cooperators go missing Introduction In People of...

Oros and Chambers Remain Controlling—But the Court Signals Reassessment of Premeditation and Police “Effect-on-Listener” Testimony in People v. Turner

Date: Oct 9, 2025

Oros and Chambers Remain Controlling—But the Court Signals Reassessment of Premeditation and Police “Effect-on-Listener” Testimony in People v. Turner Case: People of Michigan v. Keith Devon Turner,...

OV 13 Means “Felonious Activity,” Not “Felony Convictions”: Denial of Leave in People v. Carey and the Unresolved Scope of Kaczmarek for Post‑Revocation Guidelines Challenges

Date: Oct 9, 2025

OV 13 Means “Felonious Activity,” Not “Felony Convictions”: Denial of Leave in People v. Carey and the Unresolved Scope of Kaczmarek for Post‑Revocation Guidelines Challenges Introduction In People...

Retaliatory Eviction at the End of “Hybrid” Leases: Michigan Supreme Court Signals Reconsideration of the Fixed‑Term Exception and Remands for Full Review

Date: Oct 9, 2025

Retaliatory Eviction at the End of “Hybrid” Leases: Michigan Supreme Court Signals Reconsideration of the Fixed‑Term Exception and Remands for Full Review Introduction In Prudential Properties v....

Parental Facilitation of Sexual Abuse Constitutes “Aggravated Circumstances”: A Commentary on In re Barber/Espinoza (Mich. 2025)

Date: Aug 5, 2025

Parental Facilitation of Sexual Abuse Constitutes “Aggravated Circumstances”: A Commentary on In re Barber/Espinoza, Supreme Court of Michigan (2025) 1. Introduction The Michigan Supreme Court’s...

From General Warrants to Digital Precision: People v Carson and Michigan’s New Particularity Standard for Cell-Phone Search Warrants

Date: Aug 5, 2025

From General Warrants to Digital Precision: People v Carson and Michigan’s New Particularity Standard for Cell-Phone Search Warrants 1. Introduction People of Michigan v. Michael Georgie Carson...

Rayford v American House (2025): Michigan Supreme Court Revives “Reasonableness” Review and Adhesion-Contract Scrutiny for Contractual Limitation Periods in Employment Agreements

Date: Aug 5, 2025

Rayford v American House Roseville I, LLC (Mich, 2025) A New Era of “Reasonableness” & Adhesion Scrutiny in Michigan Employment Contracts 1. Introduction The Michigan Supreme Court’s 2025 decision in...

“Speculation Is Not Probable Cause” – The Michigan Supreme Court’s Implicit Re-affirmation of Robust Gatekeeping at the Preliminary Examination in People v. Amaree Darvell Terry

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“Speculation Is Not Probable Cause” – The Michigan Supreme Court’s Implicit Re-affirmation of Robust Gatekeeping at the Preliminary Examination in People v. Amaree Darvell Terry 1. Introduction On 25...

“Futility over Formality” – The Michigan Supreme Court Curtails Remand after Vacated Summary-Contempt Convictions

Date: Jul 30, 2025

“Futility over Formality” – The Michigan Supreme Court Curtails Remand after Vacated Summary-Contempt Convictions Introduction In In re Contempt of Kathy H. Murphy, the Michigan Supreme Court...

“Clarifying Public-Policy Retaliatory Discharge & Employer Status under Michigan’s WPA” – A Commentary on Janetsky v County of Saginaw (Mich. 2025)

Date: Jul 30, 2025

Clarifying Public-Policy Retaliatory Discharge & Employer Status under Michigan’s WPA – A Structured Commentary on Janetsky v. County of Saginaw, 508 Mich ___ (2025) 1. Introduction The Michigan...

No New Precedent: Denial of Review in People v. Terry, with a Dissent Urging Evidence-Based Causation and Aiding‑and‑Abetting Proof at Bindover

Date: Jul 26, 2025

No New Precedent: Denial of Review in People v. Terry, with a Dissent Urging Evidence-Based Causation and Aiding‑and‑Abetting Proof at Bindover Introduction In People of Michigan v. Damaree Darvell...

From Pre-emption to Abrogation: Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies Statutory Impact on Common-Law Claims in Online-Gambling Disputes

Date: Jul 23, 2025

From Pre-emption to Abrogation: Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies Statutory Impact on Common-Law Claims in Online-Gambling Disputes Introduction In Jacqueline Davis v. BetMGM LLC, the Michigan Supreme...