On Tuesday, February 9, 2010, Professor James Sample will be speaking at an exclusive educational symposium entitled, "Options for an Independent Judiciary in Michigan." The event is hosted by Wayne State University School of Law and the American Board of Trial Advocates.

This nonpartisan, invite-only symposium will explore options for election/selection that promote an independent judiciary in Michigan. It will present various potential reforms to the process of electing or selecting Michigan's justices in 2020 and beyond.

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor will be the keynote speaker. Among the other speakers are retired Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Kourlis, Seth Andersen of the American Judicature Society, Rich Robinson of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, Jesse Rutledge of the National Center for State Courts, Dr. Daryl Yost of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center and Robert Sedler of Wayne Law.