Updates About Supreme Court Rulings

On Thursday, July 29, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in a 5 to 2 decision that denial of goods, services, etc. on the basis of sexual orientation violates Michigan’s Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA). The majority opinion was written by Republican-nominated Justice Elizabeth Clement. The ruling significantly expands protections for the LGBTQ community as ELCRA has jurisdiction over employers of all sizes and prohibits discrimination beyond employment, in places of public accommodation, such as housing. A lower court ruling separately found the ELCRA to apply to gender identity as well.

While the ruling on Thursday and the lower court ruling were celebrated by those in the LGBTQ community and allies, the protections are not yet enshrined in law – something Democrat lawmakers, such as State Senator Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), hope to change.

It is important to note that the Michigan Supreme Court opinion was silent on whether enforcement of the protections violated constitutional religious liberties. Groups, like the Michigan Catholic Conference, expressed concern that the ruling could pose a threat to religious liberties under the state Constitution. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey also expressed concern regarding possible infringement on “those with firmly held religious beliefs”.

On July 28, in a 4 to 3 decision, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in People v. Parks that 18-year-old defendants convicted of first-degree murder to a life sentence without the possibility of parole is unconstitutional. The same 4 to 3 majority also ruled in People v. Stovall that it is unconstitutional for juveniles, those 17 and under, to be sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder.

The decision in Parks, written by Justice Elizabeth Welch and joined by Chief Justice Bridget McCormack, and Justices Bernstein and Cavanagh found that the sentence imposed did not take into account characteristics of youth, including adolescent brain development.

In Stovall, Justice McCormack wrote that a life sentence with the possibility of parole for a juvenile committing second-degree murder is often more severe than the minimum sentence for a juvenile committing first-degree murder.

The same four justices also ruled in People v. Taylor, which found rebuttable presumption against sentencing a juvenile to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This presumption will be the prosecutor’s burden to overcome by presenting clear and convincing evidence in a hearing

Justice Viviano dissented, writing that the majority “used this brutal kidnapping and murder case as an opportunity to drastically limit the discretion sentencing courts have traditionally held to impose a sentence on a defendant convicted of one of our state’s most serious crimes.”

On June 28, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled 6-0 that the Attorney General’s use of a one-person grand jury system could not issue indictments, and anyone charged under the system has the right to a preliminary examination. This was seen as a win for the Flint Water Crisis defendants; however, the ruling did not throw out the suit entirely.

Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy filed two sets of motions with the Genesee County Circuit Court. The first motions ask for the cases to be remanded to the District Court for preliminary exams in compliance with the Michigan Supreme Court. The second motions inform the court that the cases will proceed upon formal complaint.

All criminal charges that were announced last year can be found here.