15 May 2020

Gov. Whitmer Settles Right to Education Case

  In late April, we wrote about the Sixth Circuit’s decision in Gary B, et al., v. Whitmer, et al. (Case No. 18‑1855/1871, April 23, 2020), in which the court held that students have a fundamental right to a basic minimum education – meaning one that provided access to literacy. In the following weeks, Governor Whitmer faced […]

04 May 2020

Civil Rights Groups File Title IX Lawsuit in Id...

  Earlier this month, LA reported that Idaho was the first state to ban transgender women from participating in women’s athletics.   The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, signed by Governor Brad Little, legalized the practice of requiring women to partake in physical, genetic, and hormone testing in order to compete, should their gender be questioned. […]

01 May 2020

What You Need to Know: EO 2020-65

Last night, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-65, which supersedes Executive Order 2020‑35 and provides further guidance relative to the provision of K‑12 education for the remainder of the 2019‑2020 school year.  While the EO is significantly similar to EO 2020‑35, it contains new language on the following topics:  safety drills and compulsory attendance, early […]

30 April 2020

Former Assistant Prosecutor Loses Intentional T...

  In a recent unpublished case, Janetsky v County of Saginaw, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that a former prosecutor’s case against her past employer and superiors could not proceed.  Janetsky had been assigned to charge sex crimes.  While Janetsky was away on her honeymoon, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Boyd reached a plea deal with […]

29 April 2020

Sixth Circuit Creates a Fundamental Right to Ed...

  In more than one occasion, the United States Supreme Court has declined to recognize a constitutional right to education.  So has the Sixth Circuit.  Nevertheless, in Gary B, et al., v Whitmer, et al. (Case No. 18-1855/1871, April 23, 2020), the Sixth Circuit reversed field in a split decision. Plaintiffs in Gary B were […]

16 April 2020

Sixth Circuit Rules Social Worker Interviews of...

    The Sixth Circuit recently issued its opinion in Schulkers v. Kammer, involving the question of how the Fourth Amendment impacts social worker interactions with students during school.  Plaintiffs alleged that Defendants, Elizabeth Kammer (Kammer), Alison Campbell (Campbell) and Kara violated their Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights when, among other activities, they conducted in-school […]

09 April 2020

Executive Order 2020-41 Takes Notarization Digital

  On April 8, 2020, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020‑41, which relaxes notarization requirements in Michigan until midnight on May 6, 2020.  Similar to the loosening of other laws under prior EOs, EO 2020‑41 suspends strict compliance with the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act (URPERA), and the […]

07 April 2020

Idaho is the First State to Ban Transgender Fem...

  On April 1, 2020, Idaho became the first state to deny transgender girls from participating in girls’ athletics. The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act was signed by Governor Brad Little, who also signed a bill that prohibits transgender people from being able to change their birth certificates to match their gender identities.  Further, it […]

06 April 2020

EO 2020-38: FOIA Flexibility During COVID-19

  On Sunday, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020‑38, effective through June 4, 2020 (or through any extension of the EO).  The EO offers flexibility to public bodies under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as they attempt to navigate the myriad issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The EO relaxes the FOIA’s initial 5‑day […]

06 April 2020

Laid Off Teacher’s Due Process Claim Moves Forward

  On March 3, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued its decision in Mascow v. Board of Educ. of Franklin Park Sch. Dist., No. 19-2563.  It concluded that a teacher failed to establish a First Amendment claim but was able to state a valid Fourteenth Amendment Due Process claim.  The […]