Thanks to MichiganLiberal.com for pointing out this story about a recent University of Chicago Law School study that ranks Michigan’s Supreme Court dead last when it comes to judicial independence.

The study defines independence as as the judges’ ability to withstand partisan pressures or their disinclination to indulge partisan preferences when deciding cases.

The Michigan Independent Supreme Court Campaign thinks public funding of state Supreme Court elections and public accounting for television issue ads can improve the judicial system.

On Thursday the group is sponsoring an event called “Can Money Buy Justice in Michigan?” Traverse City attorney Dan O’Neil will discuss John Grisham’s latest best seller, “The Appeal,” and its relevance to the Michigan Supreme Court. More details available here.