Public Policy Resource Center

The Public Policy Resource Center is a member resource and tool designed to provide comprehensive, up-to-date public policy information of interest to the legal profession. The site provides a search function that permits you to view all legislation organized by specialty area as it is introduced, identify the appropriate official to contact to communicate your views, and keep track of the public policy initiatives of the State Bar and its entities.

April 25, 2025
Board of Commissioners
Public Policy Items To Be Considered

Members who wish to share comments on any of the items below may do so by filling out a Public Policy Comment form or emailing ntriplett@michbar.org before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

A.  Court Rule Amendments
1. ADM File No. 2023-12: Proposed Amendment of MCR 3.602 
The proposed amendment of MCR 3.602(A) would clarify the applicability of MCR 3.602 and the Michigan Uniform Arbitration Act, MCL 691.1681 et seq

2. ADM File No. 2022-34: Proposed Amendment of MCR 3.991
The proposed amendment of MCR 3.991 would clarify the process for judicial reviews of referee recommendations in juvenile cases by allowing the parties to waive judicial review, limiting a judge’s ability to conduct an early review, and requiring a judge to conduct a requested review in all cases within 21 days of the request.

3. ADM File No. 2023-22: Proposed Amendment of MRPC 6.1
The proposed amendment of MRPC 6.1 would clarify and expand the scope of pro bono service.

B.  Legislation
1. HB 4174 (Wegela) Juveniles: other; presumption of admissibility for a juvenile's self-incriminating responses obtained through deceptive police practices; modify. Amends sec. 1, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.1) & adds sec. 17e to ch. XIIA.

C.  Consent Agenda
1. M Crim JI 13.1 and 13.2
The Committee proposes amending M Crim JI 13.1 (Assaulting, Resisting, or Obstructing a Police Officer or Person Performing Duties) and M Crim JI 13.2 (Assaulting or Obstructing Officer or Official Performing Duties) to place more emphasis on the requirement that the jury receive instructions on the legal framework for assessing whether the officers’ actions were lawful. See People v Carroll, ___ Mich ___; 8 NW3d 576 (July 19, 2024) (Docket No. 166092). For each instruction, the proposed amendments would move the information currently conveyed in Use Note 4 into the body of the instruction. Deletions are in strikethrough, and new language is underlined.

2. M Crim JI 20.6 and 20.16
The Committee proposes amending M Crim JI 20.6 (Aiders and Abettors –Complainant Mentally Incapable, Mentally Incapacitated, or Physically Helpless) and M Crim JI 20.16 (Complainant Mentally Incapable, Mentally Incapacitated, or Physically Helpless) to reflect a recent change to the statutory definition of “mentally incapacitated.” See MCL 750.520a(k), as amended by 2023 PA 65. Deletions are in strikethrough, and new language is underlined.

3. M Crim JI 43.1, 43.1a, 43.2a, 43.3, and 43.3a
The Committee proposes new jury instructions for six election-related crimes found in MCL 168.931(1) and MCL 168.932(a): M Crim JI 43.1 (Offering an Incentive to Influence Voting), M Crim JI 43.1a (Bribing or Menacing an Elector), M Crim JI 43.2 (Accepting or Agreeing to Accept an Incentive Regarding Voting), M Crim JI 43.2a (Seeking an Incentive from a Candidate), M Crim JI 43.3 (Voter Coercion – Employment Threat), and M Crim JI 43.3a (Voter Coercion – Religious Threat). These instructions are entirely new.

Public Policy & the State Bar

Because the State Bar of Michigan is a mandatory bar association, the Bar can only advocate public policy positions that are reasonably related to:

  1. the regulation and discipline of attorneys;

  2. the improvement of the functioning of the courts;

  3. the availability of legal services to society;

  4. the regulation of attorney trust accounts; and

  5. the regulation of the legal profession, including the education, the ethics, the competency, and the integrity of the profession.

Sections of the State Bar that are funded by voluntary dues are not subject to these restrictions, and may engage in ideological activities on their own behalf provided that they follow the policies and procedures in Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order 2004-01 and in Article VIII of the Bylaws of the State Bar of Michigan.

Administrative Order 2004-01 limits and describes the issues on which the State Bar may take public policy positions, and the process for section and member involvement.

Article VIII of the Bylaws of the State Bar of Michigan governs public policy advocacy by sections and committees of the State Bar.

Member Comments

Submit comments on pending public policy issues.
Members are encouraged to submit comments on pending public policy issues, including proposed court rules and legislation that is eligible to be considered by the Board of Commissioners for action. All comments received from members will be shared with the Board of Commissioners and/or Representative Assembly when they consider that public policy item.

View Member Comments on pending legislation

Submit an Amicus Request

SBM Positions

Links of Interest

Searchable Positions Database

The searchable database includes all positions taken by the State Bar and positions reported to the State Bar by its sections and committees. Users are able to search the database by legislative session, bill number, bill sponsor, State Bar positions, section positions, committee positions, or practice area.

Legislation Recently Signed into Public Acts

Sections & Committees

Public Policy Updates

Sign up here to receive the weekly public policy electronic journal.

View past issues


Member Area SBM Connect
About SBM
What We Do
Members Only
Stay Connected
© Copyright 2021 SBM. All rights reserved.