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From chairperson Lavora Barnes
Our courts are under attack led, of course, by four-time indicted, twice-impeached bankruptcy king Donald Trump. He’s still furious that more than 60 different courts dismissed his claims of election fraud in 2020 and, as we record this, on the verge of a verdict in the first of his four felony trials. He’s called the well-respected New York Supreme Court judge crooked, biased, unqualified and corrupt simply because it fits into his campaign strategy of painting himself as a victim.
Adding to his attack on the system: summoning his D.C. red tie brigade to repeat the scurrilous attacks on witnesses, the jury and even the judge’s daughter: things he can’t say because of a well-deserved gag order.
On top of that Trump has made it clear that if he gets reelected, he will order the Justice Department to indict special prosecutor Jack Smith, Georgia D.A. Fanny Willis and New York district attorney Alvin Bragg for the crime of indicting Trump.
In Michigan, we have a much different story. We have an Attorney General who takes corrupt public officials from both parties without fear or favor, and works hand-in-glove with our Secretary of State to guarantee free and fair elections.
Our state’s Supreme Court is widely praised for even-handed justice. Under the leadership of a Democratic Party nominated majority the court earned a well-deserved reputation for fairness and dedication to the rule of law.
In 2024, we are working to preserve and enhance that reputation with our party’s two executive-committee endorsed candidates for the Court: Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, and University of Michigan professor Kimberly Thomas.
This week we talk with Professor Thomas on how she plans to work side-by-side with current justices Bolden, Richard Bernstein, Elizabeth Welch and Megan Cavanagh as well as the two Republican-nominated justices.
In the News This Week…
Michigan Politics
- Mich. Dems want to review signatures submitted by GOP Senate candidates – Detroit Free Press
- Dems allege forgery, fraud on GOP petitions for Michigan U.S. Senate seat – Bridge Michigan
- Democrat Slotkin leads GOP Senate hopefuls, but one matchup is tight: poll – Detroit News
- After initial rejection, Delta County canvassers certify election – Detroit News
- Report finds Adam Hollier didn’t file enough signatures – Detroit Free Press
- Crowd shows up to back lawyer, ex-clerk facing charges over voter data breach – Detroit News
Michigan Policy
- Michigan needs a General Motors 2030 economic development strategy – Michigan Future Inc.
- Barra says GM will go ‘where the talent is’ to make software-driven cars – Detroit News
- If Michigan ditches its gas tax, what might a replacement look like? – mlive.com
- Lawyer seeks ruling on lobbyist-gifted tickets after News probe – Detroit News
- Baseball, bonds and boats: Lawmakers disclose their outside jobs – Detroit News
- Michigan sheriff fought new ‘red flag’ gun law. Now he’s using it – Bridge Michigan
MAGA-Land
- The Clown Car Campaign – Democrats need to counter Trump’s courthouse press campaign – Symone Sanders-Townsend/MSNBC
- Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, and a Clown Car of Trump Wannabes Show Up to Trial – The Daily Beast
- Voters See Trump as a Greater Threat to Democracy, Think Trials Are Fair and Should Be Expedient – Data for Progress
- Trump alumni raising millions for legal defenses while scouting for White House hires – The Washington Post
National
- Dow Jones Industrial Average Tops 40000 for the First Time – Wall Street Journal
- Biden’s 102% tariff on Chinese EVs adds to tensions with Beijing – AP News
- U.S. to end coal leasing in nation’s largest coal producing region – The Washington Post
- Supreme Court upholds CFPB funding mechanism, rejecting conservative challenge – The Washington Post
- Louisiana moves to make abortion pills ‘controlled dangerous substances’ – The Washington Post
- Greg Abbott Declares Open Season on Protesters in Texas – Mother Jones
- Mother of killed BLM protester reacts to convicted murderer’s pardon – CNN
- Pressure Builds for Supreme Court to Address Transgender Cases – Wall Street Journal
- Alito flag: Supreme Court justices’ excuses for violating ethics rules are getting more and more pitiful all the time – Slate
- The Saga of Clarence Thomas and His Luxury RV Takes a Disturbing Turn – The New Republic
- Florida vulnerability to floods, storms makes anti-climate plans by Ron DeSantis all the more ludicrous – Maddow Blog
- R.F.K. Jr. Draws Another $8 Million From His Running Mate, Nicole Shanahan – The New York Times
- Supreme Court orders Louisiana to use congressional map with additional Black district – AP News