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Michigan Bar Journal September 2019
12 President’s Page

hope will be adopted for all state courts
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In 2018, the National Human Trafficking in Michigan. The principles will be pre­
sented to the Representative Assembly for
Hotline received 1,038 contacts from Michigan, approval on September 26. If approved, the
principles will be considered by the Michi­
with 383 cases reported and another 1,358 gan Supreme Court. The 10 professionalism
principles and accompanying commentary
victims and survivors identified. represent what we should expect of lawyers
and judges, and I want to thank the work
group and chair Ed Pappas for their efforts
on our behalf.

hospital, where she spent days recovering. Project to connect lawyers with victims of Thank you
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Her scars following the attack made her less human trafficking. The victims are saddled
valuable to sell and she was able to escape. with myriad legal issues, such as criminal Before I close, since this is the end of
But without health insurance or a job, she expungement for crimes committed while my term, I want to thank each of you who
could not pay the hospital bills. Although (or as a result of) being trafficked; access took the time to read the President’s Page
she was a victim of a vicious attack, she was to public benefits; access to public or sub­ columns. It has been an honor and privi­
being pursued by a collection agency. Con­ sidized housing, guardianship, or court­ lege to serve as SBM president. We are for­
necting with a lawyer who could negotiate appointed advocates for survivors under 18; tunate to have such a dedicated group of
with the collection agency and get funding immigration and family­law issues, includ­ volunteer members in the committees, sec­
from the Victim’s Compensation Fund al­ ing personal protection orders; and custody tions, and local and affinity bar associations,
lowed D’lynn to remove the negative credit issues regarding children that may have and it was a delight to meet with so many
report and take the necessary steps to rebuild been fathered by their trafficker. 19 Michigan lawyers this year. Thank you for
her life. She is now married and attending As we head into October and Pro Bono inviting me to visit with your associations
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college to become a counselor. Month, let’s all consider how we can use our and for all that you do for your communi­
Recently, Mary, a human­trafficking sur­ legal skills and training to selflessly change ties and our legal system.
vivor, attended a meeting of social service lives. On October 17, this joint coalition will For those of you who have not worked
agencies held for the purpose of understand­ host “Legal First Responders: Equipping closely with the SBM, I encourage you to
ing the legal needs of human trafficking vic­ Attorneys to Empower Human Trafficking consider doing so. The SBM is one of the
tims. Mary is a Michigander with a substance­ Survivors” to provide free training to attor­ most respected integrated bars in the nation.
abuse problem. Her traffickers exploited neys willing to take pro bono cases to help Its staff is diligent and committed to assist­
her illness and trafficked her for two years survivors. Additional opportunities will be ing each of us in fulfilling our ethical obliga­
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using advertisements on Backpage.com. She available throughout the state for both liti­ tion as public citizens to seek improvements
was able to escape, and with the help of gators and non­litigators to put your oath in the law, the administration of justice, and
Grace Centers for Hope, has been sober for of office and role as a public servant to the quality of service rendered by the legal
four years. Mary desperately wanted cus­ use and to remind yourself of why you be­ profession. I look forward to continuing to
tody of her daughter. Through The Joseph came a lawyer and to find the satisfaction work with you in our long­term investment
Project, she connected with a legal first that comes from using the law for good. to benefit lawyers, the profession, the legal
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responder; with his pro bono assistance, The ability to change the trajectory of some­ system, and society. n
she was awarded joint legal custody of her one’s life is powerful. The ability to do so Postscript: Since this article was sub­
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daughter. Her connection to this lawyer with our law degrees and professional skills mitted, the SBM has been sued in the West­
happened by chance because she attended is the essence of our value to society. “Law­ ern District of Michigan. Filed by Lucille
the “listening session.” yers play a vital role in the preservation Taylor, the case challenges the constitu­
Countless victims have similar stories of society.” 22 tionality of the integrated bar. Members are
and need the connection that helped D’lynn directed to the State Bar of Michigan State­
and Mary. In 2018, the National Human Update on professionalism ment on Federal Lawsuit on the SBM home
Trafficking Hotline received 1,038 contacts page at https://www.michbar.org/News/
from Michigan, with 383 cases reported and As a follow up to my December Presi­ NewsDetail/nid/5644 and the link to the ami­
another 1,358 victims and survivors identi­ dent’s Page highlighting the recommenda­ cus brief filed by the SBM in the pending
fied. That’s why the SBM has collaborated tions to improve civility that resulted from Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals case of Fleck
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with a coalition of associations including the Promoting Professionalism in the 21st v Wetch, as well as the March 2019 President’s
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the Oakland County Bar Association, the Century Summit at the Hall of Justice, the Page, “The Challenge to the Integrated Bar,”
D. Augustus Starker Bar Association, and Professionalism Work Group has drafted a at http://www.michbar.org/file/barjournal/
Lakeshore Legal Aid to work with The Joseph set of professionalism principles that we article/documents/pdf4article3621.pdf.