Michigan Supreme Court

Michigan SCT to Hear Case Involving Treaty Rights of Non-Federally Acknowledged Mackinac Tribe of Odawa and Ojibwe Indians

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the order in People v. Caswell.

Lower court materials here.

Application materials:

SOM App. for Leave (1_20_2026).pdfDownload
Amici Tribes’ brief filed 3-10-2026 .pdfDownload

Michigan Supreme Court Materials in Enviro and Tribal Challenges to Enbridge Line 5

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in For Love of Water v. Michigan Public Service Commission:

Oral argument link:

https://youtu.be/bNRSAJCxap8?si=a76bpgyBDGBEf6FV

Briefs:

FLOW Brief.pdfDownload
Great Lakes Business Amicus Brief.pdfDownload
Enbridge Brief.pdfDownload
Great Lakes Business Amicus Brief.pdfDownload
FLOW Reply.pdfDownload
Appendix.pdfDownload

Here are the materials in Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians v. Michigan Public Service Commission:

Oral argument link: https://youtu.be/H8Y6RHgY9hM?si=wtafDSX7nuzeP3vs

Briefs:

Tribal Brief.pdfDownload
Enbridge Brief.pdfDownload
Michigan AG Brief.pdfDownload
MPSC Brief.pdfDownload
Tribal Reply Brief.pdfDownload
Tribal Response to Amici.pdfDownload

Michigan SCT Briefs in Enbridge Line 5 Matter

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the applications for leave to appeal in In re Application of Enbridge Energy to Replace & Relocate Line 5:

Application for Leave to Appeal

FLOW Application for Leave

Lower court materials here.

2024 Michigan Supreme Court Candidates and ICWA

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Michigan judicial campaigns are down-ballot and nonpartisan but sometimes candidates reveal their ideological biases.

One Michigan Supreme Court candidate is a Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives who recently made a speech in opposition to an amendment to the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act. This candidate believes the Indian Child Welfare Act is unconstitutional because two members of the United States Supreme Court dissented in Haaland v. Brackeen. Dissents are not the law. He also made material misrepresentations about tribal membership rules and how the state law best interests of the child standard works in ICWA cases.

The other Michigan Supreme Court candidate has expressed her commitment to the rule of law. We like her lots.

Incidentally, the MIFPA amendment passed and is now law.

Michigan SCT Denies Leave to Review LTBB Reservation Boundaries Matter over Dissent

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the order in People v. Covey:

SCT Order + Dissent.pdfDownload

Can’t post briefs because Michigan’s courts do not make them available online.

GTB Chief Judge/MSU Law Alum Ken Akini Appointed to Michigan Supreme Court DEI Commission

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

Not a representation of Judge Akini . . .

Michigan SCT Holds KBIC Workers Did Not Violate State Tobacco Law When Transporting Unstamped Smokes

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion and the materials in People v. Magnant:

Mich SCT Opinion

Davis Brief

Magnant Brief

State Brief

Magnant Reply

Davis Reply

Prior post here.

Michigan SCT Orders Briefing on LTBB Reservation Boundaries in Criminal Case

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the order in People v. Covey:

Michigan SCT Order

Michigan SCT to Hear Appeal of KBIC Employees Charged with Criminally Violating State Tobacco Transportation Law

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are materials so far in the cases captioned People v. Davis and People v. Magnant:

Majority Opinion [Mich. COA]

Dissent [Mich. COA]

SCT Order Granting Review

Circuit Court materials:

Defendants Due Process Motion

Defendants Motion to Quash Information

Defendants Motion to Suppress

People Response to Due Process Motion

People Response to Motion to Quash

People Response to Motion to Suppress

 

Posting for Michigan SCT Clerkship with Justice Megan K. Cavanagh

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

Justice Cavanagh serves on the Michigan Tribal-State-Federal Judicial Forum.