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June 3, 2002 Federal Law Governs Federal Practice Federal Bankruptcy Attorney Allan Rittenhouse wins in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, reversing the district court's decision that Rittenhouse's lack of membership in the State Bar precluded his ability to have a federal-only law practice. In reversing Judge David McKeague's unsound decision, the Sixth Circuit stated in the last line of the case: "Because Rittenhouse was properly admitted to the federal bar under the applicable rule, and because federal standards govern practice before the federal bar, we reject the bankruptcy court's determination as adopted by the district court." Click here to see the Court's Opinion
June 3, 2003 Admissions Residency Requirements Change Canadian citizen Todd Branch forces the Michigan Board of Law Examiners into a settlement wherein the Board agrees to change its definition of "resident" for the purposes of MCL 600.934. Click here to see the Board's Internal Memorandum and the Court's Order
September 3, 2003 The Bar's State Immunity Is Declared Ineffective In a landmark case decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Dennis Dubuc has the State Bar of Michigan's state-created immunity declared ineffective in a federal question case. In doing so, the Sixth Circuit stated "While this provision may immunize the individual defendants from state law claims, no state law or rule can immunize anyone from liability for violating the United States Constitution." Click here to see the Court's Opinion
October 3, 2003 Admissions Reapplication Policy Changed The Board of Law Examiners had been punishing individuals who exercised their First Amendment right to challenge an adverse "character" recommendation by the State Bar of Michigan. Specifically, if an applicant appealed the State Bar's decision to the BLE and still received an adverse decision, the ineligibility period changed from 3 years to 5 years. On October 3, 2003, the Michigan Supreme Court, under pressure from Dennis Dubuc and Frank Lawrence (above) finally changed the BLE Rules for the benefit of all Bar applicants. Click here to see the Court's Order
December, 2003 The State Bar of Michigan's Abuse of the "Character and Fitness" Process is Discussed In The Michigan Bar Journal Prominent and highly respected civil rights attorney, Robert D. Horvath, wrote a three-page article that was published in the December edition of the Michigan Bar Journal, 82 Michigan Bar Journal 9 (Dec. 2003). This article discussed Michigan's "character and fitness" process and provided specific examples of abuses. Robert D. Horvath is licensed in both Michigan and Florida. He is nationally known as a successful attorney who fights the abuse of power by state officials. His cases include R.S.W.W. v. City of Keego Harbor, 397 F. 3d 427 (6th Cir. 2005); Dubuc v. Michigan Board of Law Examiners, 342 F.3d 610 (6th Cir. 2003), G & V Lounge v. Michigan Liquor Control Commission, 23 F.3d 1071 (1994), HRSS Inc. v. Wayne County, 279 F. Supp.2d 846 (E.D. Mich. 2003), and R.S.W.W. Inc. v. City of Keego Harbor, 18 F.Supp.2d 738 (E.D. Mich. 1998). Click here to see the Michigan Bar Journal Article
January 8, 2004 National Attention Is Created Over The Significant Problems With The State Bar's Admissions Policies. The Sixth Circuit Finds In Favor Of A Picketing Bar Applicant. In yet another landmark ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, E. Stephen Dean creates national attention over the facts and circumstances of this case. In this lawsuit, Dean claims that Director of Professional Standards Thomas K. Byerley threatened him with licensure denial on account of Dean's picketing. During oral argument, Byerley's counsel, Deputy Regulation Counsel of the State Bar Victoria Kremski, made "misstatements" to the federal appeals panel on Byerley's behalf. StateBarWatch was there when it happened and StateBarWatch took action. Click here to see Kremski's "Correction of a Misstatement". The Sixth Circuit delivered a clear message that the Michigan licensing officials are not above the law. Click here to see this landmark Opinion Click here to listen to Dean's oral argument Click here to listen to Kremski's oral argument StateBarWatch.org is honored to have the privilege of fighting for the rights of all members (and future members) of the State Bar of Michigan. If you have meritorious claims against the State Bar of Michigan, you should familiarize yourself with these cases and learn from them before filing suit. The State Bar of Michigan is not above the law! | |
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