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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

Shirvell fired by AG’s office

By Ed Brayton | 11.08.10 | 3:26 pm

Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell was expected to continue the administrative disciplinary hearing examining his actions toward University of Michigan student leader Chris Armstrong today, but those proceedings were apparently cut short and he has been fired. AnnArbor.com reports:

Andrew Shirvell has been fired from his job as a Michigan assistant state attorney, his attorney said moments ago.

Shirvell was called before the attorney general’s staff at 1:30 p.m. today, said Philip Thomas, Shirvell’s attorney.

“The only reason they gave was the fact that they felt his actions had made it impossible for him to continue in his role,” Thomas said.

Let me make three predictions:

1. He’s going to file a suit against the state for wrongful termination.

2. He’ll be represented by the Thomas More Law Center in that suit.

3. He will win that suit. He’s got pretty solid grounds for a First Amendment suit here and I think it’s likely a winning case, no matter how vile I find his comments to be.

Comments

  • Anonymous

    Attorney General Mike Cox’s statement about about the decision underscores the fact that Shirvell was not fired because of his personal views but because he came close to violating that state’s anti-stalking ordinance, he made harrassing phone calls and blog posts from his office during work hours, and he lied on several occasions during his disciplinary hearing. None of these are free-speech issues, and some may be criminal. I think he’d have a hard time refuting any of those charges. They may, in fact, be grounds for disbarment, which would prevent him from serving as an attorney general in any case.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FXYUOQSTKTKPB2BNKYSOKJ7I3I Joe B.

    @Ed: You really should not have made your “predictions” without looking into all the facts of the firing first. zhobson is correct when he states Shirvell’s actions may have been criminal. He lied to the AG office, he posted on his blog and made harassing phone calls while on state time. If he was under oath he could be prosecuted for perjury. The university attorney has also provided evidence to the Michigan State bar that this is not the first time Shirvell has targeted people with this type of behavior. The next step is disbarment and it’s doubtful that anyone who is so mentally unstable will be allow to continue practicing law.

  • Anonymous

    Keep in mind this is how this guy acted out of the courtroom. Odds are he was just as twisted in the courtroom and people are in jail because of it. His boss approves.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SF4I6IQUUFE2BYI67R3RFU2WJA Al

    If Shirvell attempts to sue the state for “wrongful” termination he will lose! He used State phones and state time to continue his harassment and stalking of a private individual. This has nothing to do with “freedom of speech” and everything to do with, among other things, abuse of power! If he had only worked on his crusade against Chris on his own time AND he had not elected to show up at 1:30AM in the morning to conduct a “protest” then I suggest you are right and he has a case. But he has done several things that are potentially illegal and are definitely unethical (using his job and position to harass another person). So he will lose any lawsuit, but I suspect he will do it anyway, he’s a political animal and loves the spotlight (even if it does make him look like a psychotic loser)!!! Most likely he will get disbarred if Chris get criminal charges against him – which seems fairly likely!

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