We returned from today’s hearing in federal court to find clearing crews cutting down our trees. Sam the dog is very frightened and won’t go outside now.
We’ll give a fuller account as soon as we’re able, but the quick version of today’s hearing is that not much happened. Judge Cleland wants the parties to argue the question of “standing”–that is, whether POLAR has legal standing to bring this suit (more on that in a later post)– before hearing anything else. But since the parties weren’t prepared to make those arguments today, they’ve set a date (Nov. 7, I believe) for that hearing. So more delays…
We’ll try to explain and describe all of this in more detail in a subsequent post. Now back to the falling trees…
poor Sam!
I am so sorry to hear of this, and also of the Judge’s decision today. Does anyone know who the attorney of record is for the Michigan Township Association on the Amicus Brief? I am assuming it was filed in Oakland County, as I cannot see from the docket list in the Federal Court that it has been filed in that case. I am very interested to see their legal position on this. Thank you.
Jacque: the attorney who wrote the MTA amicus is John Bauckham. It was filed in federal court; I have it from the federal docket. If you contact me back channel, I can send it to you. The MTA’s legal position seems to be that POLAR does not have standing, though they barely mention it.