Lansing — Michigan State Police will be required to destroy guns collected during community buybacks or other efforts, under legislation signed into law this week by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. State police in 2024 acknowledged that a previous disposal…

A traffic stop in Gaines Township escalated into a brief police chase, ending with two arrests and the recovery of cannabis, cash, and a firearm. No injuries were reported.

Lansing — A Michigan Court of Claims judge on Tuesday ruled that state laws that mandate a 24-hour waiting period and informed consent before a pregnancy can be terminated violate the state's constitutional right to abortion. Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel also found unconstitutional the state's prohibition on advanced practice clinicians from performing abortions. But she upheld a fourth section of law that requires medical professionals to screen pregnant women seeking an abortion for signs of coercion, finding the rule did not violate the Reproductive Freedom for All constitutional amendment that voters approved in 2022. "Most of the statutory requirements burden or infringe upon individuals’ reproductive freedom, are not based on a compelling state interest to protect the health of individuals seeking abortion care, are not consistent with the accepted standard of care and evidence-based medicine, and infringe on autonomous decision-making," wrote Patel, an appointee of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer said Tuesday the ruling ensures Michigan women can make decisions about their own bodies "without political interference." “Today’s ruling means that patients and doctors are no longer subject to even more of these outdated restrictions on abortion, including the forced waiting period and a ban on advanced practice clinicians from performing abortions," Whitmer said in a statement. The permanent injunction on the state abortion laws, issued Tuesday, comes about 10 months after Patel granted preliminary injunction to plaintiffs, issuing a permanent injunction while the case proceeded through trial. The issue went to trial in February. The lawsuit, filed in February 2024 by abortion provider Northland Family Planning and pro-abortion rights group Medical Students for Choice, came months after the Democratic-led Legislature was unable to muster support in the House for a repeal of the 24-hour waiting period or the informed consent laws. Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel, who usually would be tasked with supporting state law, instead voiced her support for the Northland Family Planning suit. Nessel instead built a legal firewall within the department and Assistant Attorney General Eric Restuccia argued in defense of state law on behalf of the people of Michigan. It is unclear whether Restuccia will appeal Tuesday's decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals. eleblanc@detroitnews.com Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Judge overturns Michigan's 24-hour waiting period, informed consent abortion laws

MDefenders is a faculty-sponsored student organization as well as a network of courses, programming, and resources that support public defense education at Michigan Law and beyond. Founded in 2014, MD...

A Michigan township challenges a federal lawsuit regarding the establishment of a local cannabis dispensary, citing jurisdictional concerns. The case highlights the legal complexities of state versus ...

A bill intended to track Michigan students when they move from one school district to another is expected to be introduced in the state Legislature as soon as next week in the wake of a horrific abuse and neglect case involving three school-age children…

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The University of Michigan Law School's Law and Mobility Program ho...

Michigan Court of Appeals Affirms Denial of Corporate Tax Refund BLOOMING BRANCH—The Michigan Court of Appeals has affirmed a decision by the Tax Tribunal rejecting a corporate taxpayer’s request for a refund of corporate income taxes paid from 2013 through 2016. The central dispute in the legal proceedings concerned the determination of the origin—or source—of

Legal actions have been initiated in Michigan against a recent federal decision to temporarily extend the operational life of the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in west Michigan. Environmental organizations and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel have jointly filed legal challenges to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) emergency order. This order prevents Consumers Energy from retiring the plant as planned on May 31st, as part of the company's shift toward cleaner energy alternatives. The DOE’s intervention came shortly before the scheduled closure, citing potential electricity shortages across the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) grid, which serves 15 states and a portion of Canada. The DOE’s order mandates the plant's operation through at least late August. Opponents, including Earthjustice attorney Shannon Fisk, contend that the DOE exceeded its authority and manufactured an emergency to justify the decision. They assert that no genuine energy crisis necessitates keeping the aging and potentially unstable plant online. Attorney General Nessel voiced similar concerns, emphasizing that the federal directive conflicts with Michigan’s commitment to clean energy initiatives and bypasses state regulatory processes. Her office has filed a separate legal challenge to overturn the order. In response, the DOE maintains its commitment to reliable and affordable energy sources, regardless of weather conditions. Consumers Energy, having already received a coal shipment in preparation for the shutdown, is currently adhering to the emergency directive. The resolution of these legal challenges remains pending, and the possibility of the federal government extending the order looms, potentially leading to further legal battles. A parallel emergency directive has also been issued in Pennsylvania, mandating the continued operation of the Eddystone Generating Station to address concerns about electricity supply within the mid-Atlantic region.