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Michigan has led a worldwide trend in abolishing one of the most controversial punishments in history, the death penalty. Michigan has also helped revolutionize affirmative action policy, as the state’s largest university has been at the center of two U.S. Supreme Court decisions that both confirmed and refined the use of affirmative action in higher education. Although the impact of these cases was great, the High Court’s composition has changed since they were handed down, and it is unclear whether affirmative action’s role in school admissions will change along with the new Justices’ ideologies.
Michigan was the first state in the country and the first government in the English-speaking world to eradicate the death penalty. In the 1972 case Furman v. Georgia, the U.S. Supreme Court found that the punishment violated the Eighth Amendment because it was applied arbitrarily and affected a disproportionate number of minorities.
However, in 1976 the Court reinstated the death penalty in Gregg v. Georgia, stating that it is constitutional so long as federal and state governments apply the punishment consistently and fairly, as well as in proportion to the crimes committed. The Fifth Amendment has been cited in support of this decision; specifically, supporters argue that the Fifth Amendment, which guarantees no one will be deprived of “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” implies that the Constitution permits depriving someone of his or her life, so long as due process is followed.
Although 34 states continue to authorize the death penalty, a number have limited its use, for example banning the execution of the mentally retarded; additionally, major national organizations, including the American Bar Association, the ACLU, and the Southern Baptist Convention publicly oppose the death penalty, and only two other democracies in the world—Japan and South Korea—still allow it at all.
Michigan has been known to be a state that has a high rate of crime rate and some of its cities are known to be in the top 5 crime rates among the medium-sized cities in the US. If you have been a victim of a crime or have been accused of a crime that you believe you do not commit, there are many criminal defense attorneys that are experienced in the Michigan court system that can help you with your case.
Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can assist you through the process.
With the large amount of corporations, companies, and businesses that run throughout the state of Michigan. Residents of Michigan who are part of large companies sometimes have employment issues throughout their employment with their employers or contractors. Michigan is an “at-will” employment state meaning that if there is no employment contract in place, both the employer and employee are free to terminate the employment at any time for any reason.
If you believe that you have a strong case for wrongful termination or have run into some issues about your employment in the state of Michigan, contacting a workers compensation attorney would be a great idea.
There are also a number of lawyers who call Michigan home and are familiar with court procedure locally and statewide. Michigan lawyers can represent you in many diverse areas of law including personal injury, bankruptcy, automobile accidents, tax, DUI, arson, assault, divorce, child custody and alimony issues and more
In 2007, there were 37,668 lawyers holding active licenses in Michigan. According to an ABA Survey on Lawyer Discipline Systems, there were 3,293 disciplinary related complaints filed against Michigan lawyers in 2007; of those against whom complaints were filed, 319 were sanctioned and 17 were disbarred.
The websites below lead to further information about Michigan’s laws and legal system:
The most reliable way to find a pre-screened bar certified lawyer in Michigan is by utilizing the free services of LegalMatch. Our website is home to many useful research tools as well as the best lawyer matching system to ensure your satisfaction. LegalMatch allows you to check prices, availability, and reviews from past clients to make sure you are matched with the right lawyer for your case.