Winter 2003 Michigan Supreme Court Dedicates Hall of Justice n October 8, 2002, the with a brief presentation by the Michigan Supreme Court Michigan Supreme Court Oheld a special session to Historical Society in the Old dedicate its new home, the Supreme Court Chambers of Michigan Hall of Justice. The the Capitol building. At approxi- dedication of the building marked mately 11:30, over 130 judges the first time in Michigan history and Justices from around the that a specific building had been state, including many of the set aside for the state Supreme former Justices of the Michigan Court and the building became the Supreme Court, gathered Court’s first “permanent” home outside the Capitol building for a since leaving the Capitol in 1970. procession from the old home of Society President Wallace D. Riley addresses the Court The Hall of Justice, of course, during opening Oral Arguments in the the Court to the new. houses much more than the Old Supreme Court Chambers. At 12:00 noon, the Crier chambers and offices of the called the Court into special Justice Learning Center. Michigan Supreme Court. It is also session and the ceremony dedicating The dedication program began, as the home of the Michigan Court of the Hall of Justice was underway. The have all opening oral argument Appeals Fourth District, the State program began with Chief Justice sessions for the past several years, Court Maura D. Administra- Corrigan tive Offices, addressing the the Michigan audience and Judicial emphasizing that Institute, and the Hall of the interac- Justice is the tive museum- peoples’ style gallery building. In her the Hall of The procession of judges and Justices leaves the Capitol and follows the promenade to the Hall of Justice. remarks, she in this issue Michgian Supreme Court Dedicates In Recent News...........................................4 Hall of Justice.............................................1-3 Financial Report............................................5 President’s Message....................................4 Membership Roster..................................6-7 michigan supreme court historical society stated: was unable to act on Harlan Bartholomew’s vision This courthouse is the peoples’ building. It is here for decades and the capitol complex only began to to do the peoples’ business in the third branch of take shape with the completion of the Mason Build- government. My colleagues and I, judges and ing in 1953…. And still there was a strong sentiment Justice of Michigan, are privileged to share this for a more traditional building anchoring the west historic day with you. The Justices of the Michigan end of the mall. We had to wait a few decades but Supreme Court for many generations dreamed of finally, now, what Harlan Bartholomew envisioned standing where we stand today, before this building back in 1920, a magnificent building, as he put it, that so magnificently symbolizes the role of law. “worthy of the people of Michigan”, a building that Today the dream of our predecessors is no longer complements one of the most beautiful state capitals deferred. Today the dream is realized. in the union, a building whose colonnade invites citizens to approach our Halls of Justice. A building Justice Corrigan then introduced Bishop Kenneth whose glass dome lets light into our judiciary. A Povich, retired Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of building whose wings gesture towards the other Lansing, for the invocation. branches of government. A building with a learning center that is truly second to none in the nation. It’s Several other dignitaries took part in the day’s events. a building of limestone and marble that symbolize The program featured Governor John Engler, Senator the permanent things on which our constitutional Harry Gast, Justice Michael F. Cavanagh, Lansing Mayor republic is founded. Justice, ordered freedom and David C. Hollister, and State Bar President Reginald M. self-government under the rule of law. A building, Turner, Jr. ladies and gentlemen, that is the finest state judicial In his remarks, Governor Engler reminded the audience edifice in the United States. And it is a fitting home what a long journey it had been to commission and for the finest judiciary in the United States. dedicate a building for the judicial branch. Following Governor Engler, Justice Michael F. This is both a historic and a fulfilling day. By one Cavanagh addressed the audience, focusing on not only reckoning dated from the Supreme Court’s move into the building itself, but on the grounds it was built upon. the temporary quarters, what is now the G. Mennen Williams Building in 1970, it took 32 years for this Permit me to begin today with a brief reflection day to arrive. By another reckoning dated from the on the trip we took a few moments ago. Standing ratification of the Constitution of 1834, it took 167 there directly to our east is the beautiful Capitol of years for us to reach this point…. The Michigan Michigan. The last time citizens gathered in Lansing judiciary has come a long way since meeting back in for so significant a dedication was on January 1, the 1830s at a tavern on Fort Street in Detroit. How 1879 when that building was dedicated. Since that we got sort of here from there is quite a tale. A key day we have twice turned a century. Today we chapter in this story that I can mention here today walked from that magnificent building to this. We began 82 years ago when a man visited Lansing and walked from our first permanent courtroom to a he had an idea. That man was Harlan Bartholomew, courthouse that we expect to carry us 200 years into one of America’s first great city planners…. He the future. As I mentioned when we broke ground on recommended Lansing take its cue from Washington, this site, our walk today carried us down not just a D.C., with its beautiful mall extending west from the freshly laid sidewalk, but down old Michigan Avenue Capitol Building. There should be dignity, order and and across Butler. Through the ghosts and the beauty in Lansing’s Capitol Complex. Spaces should shadows of a diverse working class neighborhood be designed to encourage citizens to enter the mall, that once stood here. At that groundbreaking I said promenade its length, visit public sites, and enjoy today we put up a Hall of Justice. We build it not in picnics on the grounds. Bartholomew even envi- an empty field, but in a neighborhood. Not among sioned a building on the west end of our mall that parked cars, but atop the homes and playgrounds would anchor the wonderful public spaces and and dreams of the people who lived here. So we hold complement the capitol. He advocated a building in this land in trust, obliged to do justice for the people the classical style to ignoble state government to of Michigan whose homes, schools and dreams once express the timeless values of our civilization. Well filled this area. And as I look around today I’m for many, many reasons, above all certainly the struck by the many ways in which this new building Great Depression and Second World War, the state will remind us of what we are here to do…. www.micourthistory.org Page 2 Sociey update Year-in-review Justice Cavanagh also took the time to reiterate that the The program continued with State Bar President Hall of Justice is the Reginald M. peoples’ building, and Turner, Jr. present- that it will be used to ing the Court with assist the people of a time capsule that Michigan in realizing would be sealed to justice. commemorate the events of the day So justice then and opened on is not something October 8, 2102. invented or The Justices of created by the the Court, both persons who have current and former, been asked to and the judges of serve for a time as judges. It comes the Court of from the people The Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, joined by judges of the Court of Appeals, Appeals, then and from the values gavel open the Hall of Justice. gaveled the Hall of and traditions that form the mind and the sole of the Justice open. people. The Michigan Constitution speaks also The program concluded with a benediction by Rabbi about this one court of justice. Not one court of laws David A. Nelson, of the Congregation Beth Shalom. or one court of legislative enactments or one court of judicial inventions. This is one court of justice. Excerpts of remarks were taken from the transcript of And each of us has sworn an oath to uphold the the October 8, 2002 special session of the Michigan Constitution that creates and continues that court. Supreme Court. For the full transcript, visit www.micourthistory.org and click on Recent News. Have you paid your 2003 Dues? For your convenience, the Society accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Please call (517) 373-7589 to make your payment by phone, or complete and mail or fax the following information to: Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, 1st Floor Hall of Justice, 925 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, MI 48915 Fax (517) 373-7592 Name _____________________________________ [] Check enclosed [] Credit Card (Circle one) Address ___________________________________ Visa MasterCard American Express City ___________________ State ________ Name on Card______________________________ Zip__________ Phone_____________________ Acct. No. _________________________________ * Individual Membership: $100 * Corporate/Law Firm Membership: $1000 Exp. Date _________________ Total Payment $___________ Signature __________________________________ Page 3 www.micourthistory.org michigan supreme court historical society President’s Message: The year 2002 was a busy and successful one for the In Recent News........ Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society.