Submitted from the Mid-Michigan Pro SPJ Chapter

The Michigan Supreme Court is considering a rule change that would ban public access to a wide range of information provided by the State Bar of Michigan. As The Detroit News warns in an editorial, it would "cut off the access to all records of the State Bar that relate to: Ethics complaints, the association's practice management resource center program, unauthorized practice of law program, client protection fund program and lawyers and judges' substance abuse and addiction assistance program." Michigan Press Association chief counsel Dawn Hertz cautioned in a recent column: "These files may contain important information on how public servants perform their positions of trust." The MPA is filing a letter in opposition to the rule change with the Court; SPJ's Mid-Michigan and Detroit chapters are working on a joint response. What you can do: File a comment with the Michigan Supreme Court by Jan. 1 or speak up at an administrative hearing on the rule change at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 17 on the sixth floor of the Michigan Hall of Justice, 925 W. Ottawa St., Lansing, MI 48915. To reserve a place on the agenda, e-mail the Clerk of Court at MCS_clerk@courts.mi.gov no later than Jan. 15. Comments should be addressed to Michigan Supreme Court, Mr. Corbin R. Davis,  Clerk of the Supreme Court, PO Box 30052, Lansing, MI 48909.