05.03.2010

Appellate attorneys from across the state will travel to the Detroit area this June for an insider’s look into the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court.

The Michigan Appellate Bench-Bar Conference will take place on June 10-11 at The Inn at St. John's in Plymouth, Michigan. Lawyers attending the two-day conference will have the unique opportunity to meet state appellate and Supreme Court judges and to discuss in detail various aspects of appellate law.

“This conference is truly unique because it offers lawyers a chance to learn about all aspects of appellate practice, to meet the judges and justices and court staff informally, and to discuss the appellate process in Michigan,” said conference coordinator Mary Massaron, a partner at the law firm of Plunkett Cooney. “This event has been growing every year, and we expect to have another successful turnout again in June.”

Promoting the theme: “Civility and Collegiality - Advocacy and Judging with Bench and Bar,” the 2010 Bench Bar Conference will feature two days of plenary and breakout sessions on a variety of appellate law subjects, including handling appellate emergencies, brief writing and oral advocacy, and new technology initiatives and e-filing. Presenters and participants at all sessions will be appellate judges, court staff, and experienced appellate practitioners. Luncheon speakers will include Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Margret G. Robb and legal writer Bryan A. Garner.

The Michigan Appellate Bench Bar is a cooperative effort between the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Appellate Bench Bar Conference Foundation, and the State Bar of Michigan Appellate Practice Section, with substantial financial support from the DeWitt C. Holbrook Memorial Fund.

Conference attendees can select from a number of different educational tracks, including criminal, civil, family and child welfare. A limited number of hotel rooms have been reserved for conference participants at the Inn at St. John’s, which is located at 44045 Five Mile Road in Plymouth. The hotel reservation deadline is May 26.

The $375 conference fee includes program materials, the Wednesday (June 9) pre-conference reception, Thursday’s luncheon, a reception and dinner later that evening with the justices and judges, and Friday’s luncheon.

Limited scholarships assistance is available to pay the registration fee for transitioning attorneys who wish to attend the conference. Anyone interested in details about scholarship assistance or those who wish to register for the conference are directed to download and complete an application, which can be obtained at www.benchbar.org. 

Media inquires about the 2010 Michigan Appellate Bench Bar can be directed to Plunkett Cooney partner and conference coordinator Mary Massaron at (313) 983-4801 or mmassaron@plunkettcooney.com

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