Center for Judicial Engagement’s Forum on the Michigan Constitution

Join us on Friday, May 20, 2022 at The Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan, for an exciting exploration of judicial engagement and the Michigan Constitution! Judicial engagement is the idea that courts should demand the government provide real evidence and real arguments when examining whether it has violated the law. This is usually discussed with the U.S. Constitution in mind. But Michigan has a constitution too! And Michigan’s judges interpret the state’s constitution and apply it against state and local governments. What should judges do in those cases? And how should we think about the Michigan Constitution, given that it has been rewritten many times over so many years?

Join us to hear from a diverse and eminent group of a retired state supreme court justice, academics, and constitutional lawyers in a wide-ranging discussion on judicial engagement and the Michigan Constitution. This includes an address by Anthony Sanders of IJ’s Center for Judicial Engagement, as well as a free lunch. Please RSVP at the bottom of the page to reserve your spot today!

Special Guests

Amy Murphy
Miller Johnson
Patrick J. Wright
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Deborah A. Labelle
Attorney
Honorable Justice Stephen J. Markman
Michigan Supreme Court (ret.)
Professor Evan Zoldan
The University of Toledo College of Law
Patrick Jaicomo
Institute for Justice
Jaimie Cavanaugh
Institute for Justice
Anthony Sanders
Institute for Justice

Agenda

12:00 pm

Registration and Lunch

Welcome and Introduction to State Constitutions and Judicial Engagement

Anthony Sanders, Director of the Center for Judicial Engagement

12:30-1:00 pm
1:00-2:00 p.m.

Panel I: Litigating Under the Michigan Constitution

Amy Murphy
Patrick Wright
Deborah LeBalle
Moderator: Jaimie Cavanaugh

Panel II: Interpreting the Michigan Constitution(s)

Justice Stephen Markman
Professor Evan Zoldan
Moderator: Patrick Jaicomo

2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
3:15 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Reception to follow.

3:30p.m.

CJE Michigan Constitution Forum