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1. Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice John W. Fitzgerald

Description:
Part 1: In an oral history interview, former Michigan Supreme Court Justice John W. Fitzgerald discusses his family background, serving in the armed forces, attending law school at the University of Michigan, the early days of his legal career, and running for the the Michigan Senate in 1958 and the newly created Michigan Court of Appeals in 1964. Justice Fitzgerald also talks about his decision to leave the Court of Appeals to serve on the Michigan Supreme Court, the Supreme Court election process, his own campaigns and his decision not to accept campaign contributions from lawyers. Fitzgerald further provides insight on the Supreme Court's decision making process, the composition of the Court during his tenure and the famous Scholle vs. Secretary of State case. Part 2: In an oral history interview, former Michigan Supreme Court Justice John W. Fitzgerald talks about his early days on the Michigan Supreme Court and difficult issues faced by the Court in the nineteen-seventies, including selecting a new Chief Justice in 1974, the death of Justice Thomas M. Kavanagh in 1975, and the investigation of Justice John Swainson later that same year. He says that some cases suffered during that period because the Court was "short-handed". Justice Fitzgerald also discusses memorable cases decided by the Court during his tenure, including People vs. Beavers and the "Poletown" case, the legislative role of the court, and collegiality amongst the justices.
Date Created:
1990-01-01T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:
Michigan State University. Libraries
Collection:
Interviews with Michigan State Supreme Court Justices

2. Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court justice Mary S. Coleman

Description:
Part 1: Mary S. Coleman, the first woman elected to the Michigan Supreme Court and the first to serve as its Chief Justice, talks about her early life in Texas, her family's move to Washington, D.C., her parents, her father's death, her high school years, meeting Oliver Wendall Holmes, dating, attending the University of Maryland and attending law school at George Washington University, where she was often the only female in her classes. She also talks about getting her law degree in 1939, marrying her husband a few days later, starting a job at the USDA, and later moving to her husband's hometown of Marshall, Michigan to support his bid for the Michigan Senate in 1948. Part 2: Mary S. Coleman, the first woman elected to the Michigan Supreme Court and the first to serve as its Chief Justice, talks about her husband Creighton's campaign for the Michigan Senate in 1948, his legal practice, her life as a homemaker, her husband's law firm, and pursuing her own legal career in Michigan. Coleman also discusses dealing with sexism in the judicial system, the respectful way she was treated by judges, her interest in children's issues, foster care, juvenile court and social work, and how she eventually become a court referee and later, in 1960, a Probate Court judge. Coleman calls herself a "conservative" and then describes her support for the Equal Rights Amendment and other women's rights initiatives. She concludes by describing the working environment within the Court, its terrible reputation, the hostility between the justices, the divisions over workers compensation cases, the influence of unions, the Swainson scandal and its impact on the Court and her own role in deciding key cases. Part 3: Mary S. Coleman, the first woman elected to the Michigan Supreme Court and the first to serve as its Chief Justice, concludes her reminisces of her time on the Court. Coleman describes efforts to reorganize the lower court system to bring efficiency and clarity to the system, working with unions, Coleman Young, and others to influence legislation restructuring the courts and breaking with old systems of patronage and favor. Coleman also discusses fighting to get better pay for her court employees while she was a Probate judge, attempts to bring fairness and equity to pay levels across the state, the battle over reapportionment following the 1980 census, her resignation from the Court so that Governor William Milliken could appoint her replacement, various colleagues on the Court and the support from her family which she says she has enjoyed throughout her career.
Date Created:
1991-01-01T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:
Michigan State University. Libraries
Collection:
Interviews with Michigan State Supreme Court Justices

3. Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice John D. Voelker

Description:
In an oral history interview, Michigan Supreme Court Justice and author of the novel "Anatomy of a murder", John D. Voelker, talks about growing up in Ishpeming, MI, and his education and work background, including his time as a district attorney. Voelker also discusses being appointed to the Court in 1957, running against Joseph Moynihan, Jr. for a seat that same year, how decisions are made by the justices, famous cases he heard, including People v. Hildabridle and his eventual resignation from the Court. Justice Voelker talks fondly about writing, and the books he wrote under the pseudonym Robert Traver and reads an excerpt from "Laughing whitefish" which includes a description of the Michigan Supreme Court chambers. Voelker is interviewed by Roger F. Lane.
Date Created:
1990-10-01T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:
Michigan State University. Libraries
Collection:
Interviews with Michigan State Supreme Court Justices