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AI is transforming the legal profession, forcing law firms to determine if – and how- to adapt to new tools that promise efficiency, cost reduction, and increased accessibility to legal services. But with these advancements come serious challenges, particularly the problem of AI-generated “hallucinations”—fabricated information presented with complete confidence.

A recent Fortune article, “How AI Will Change Law Firms,” outlines the shifting landscape, noting that AI will alter the structure and operation of law firms. And yet, the cautious approach to AI that persists at the top of some law firms shows that managing partners who still worry about moving too early are overlooking the significant adoption that’s already well underway. An international study of professionals conducted last year found that AI is the top strategic priority for law firms, and a sizable 22% of respondents classified their firm as an AI innovator or early adopter.

The next wave of generative AI adoption in the legal industry will come from those firms that realize they need to be “fast followers.” Managing partners report that there are many perceived advantages to being a fast follower rather than a leader. That’s because there are real costs associated with technology and training, and some firms want to wait for others to sort out the thornier issues of how to handle client privilege and data privacy in the era of AI.

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The disconnect defense is a legal strategy in a Michigan DUI case that highlights the inconsistency—or disconnect—between a defendant’s high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) results and their observable behavior at the time of arrest. For instance, if a breath or blood test shows a BAC of 0.20%—a level typically associated with symptoms like emotional instability, impaired motor coordination, and slurred speech as detailed in Dubowski – stages of alcohol effects—yet the individual demonstrates steady balance, clear speech, and passes field sobriety tests, this discrepancy can be used to challenge the validity of the BAC evidence.

Dubowski’s research provides a clear framework for evaluating expected behaviors at different BAC levels:

  • At 0.09%-0.25% (Excitement stage), symptoms such as emotional instability, sensory-motor impairment, and slurred speech are common.
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If you’ve been charged with a crime in Michigan, you are probably wondering what will happen to you when you go to court. Understanding the the rules of criminal procedure in Michigan will help lower your anxiety and this guide is designed to give you a basic reference about what to expect after your case gets started in court.

Also covered in this comprehensive guide to criminal procedure are the steps that the case will go through before it ever gets to court. Understanding how cases begin is essential for anyone facing criminal allegations. The following information is for Michigan state cases.  For federal case procedure please see our companion article – What Are the Steps in a Federal Criminal Case?

Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Criminal Procedure:

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When you’re arrested for a DUI in Michigan, the arresting officer will take your driver’s license and destroy it. This plastic license will be replaced with a temporary permit or a paper license, depending on the circumstances of your arrest. This paper license differs from your regular driver’s license as it lacks your photo but still permits unlimited driving.

Michigan DUI attorney near meThe police and your attorney will refer to this paper license as a “DI-177.” The title of it is Breath Blood or Urine Report. This is a Michigan Temporary Driving Permit acts as your temporary driver’s license until you’re either convicted of the OWI or your case gets dismissed.

This paper license is only issued if you consented to a test allowing law enforcement to measure your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) during your arrest. This does not include the roadside test, only the test back at the station.

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The science shows that the way you blow into an alcohol breath test instrument can significantly impact the test results. Thus, the difference between innocent and guilty can be a simple as bad breath.

Barone-1-1-300x278Breathing patterns can significantly affect the accuracy of alcohol breath test results when using infrared breath test instruments. These instruments, including the Intoxilyzer 9000, are commonly used to estimate blood alcohol concentration (BAC) based on the alcohol content in a person’s breath.

However, several factors, including breathing patterns, can introduce inaccuracies into the readings, leading to potential misinterpretations of a person’s intoxication level

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If you’ve been arrested for drunk driving in Michgian, you were probably given a breath test. If you have heartburn, then the test result can be wrong, and that’s a big problem. Even a small difference in your breath test reading can be the difference between being charged and being let go.

The most serious form of of heartburn is called GERD. (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) This kind of heartburn can cause a falsely high reading on a breath test instrument used to measure breath or blood alcohol levels in intoxicated driving cases because of the way alcohol is metabolized and processed in the body.

Michigan just introduced a new breath test instrument called the Intoxilyzer 9000, and even though this is the latest and greatest, heartburn and GERD is still a problem that can lead to falsely high breath test results. Here’s why.

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If you are charged with a felony in one of Michigan’s State courts, then you have a right to a preliminary examination. This hearing will take place after your probable cause conference. This probable cause conference must take place within 14 days of the arraignment.

A preliminary examination hearing is a hearing that takes place in the district court. The judge presiding over the hearing decides whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to the circuit court.

The main purpose of this hearing is to determine if the prosecutor can establish that there is a reasonable belief the defendant committed the crime in question.

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Michigan and Federal criminal and Constitutional law provides that when a person is arrested and charged with a crime, they have the opportunity to seek release from custody by posting bail or bond. Your bond and any conditions of your pretrial release will be considered when you are first brought to court for your arraignment.

By posting bail, you provide a monetary guarantee that you will attend all future court hearings. If you fail to appear, you risk forfeiting the bail amount.

While granting temporary release, the court must also consider public safety. The court does this by imposing conditions on your pretrial release. The conditions of bond aim to minimize potential risks to the community while you are at large rather than in jail.

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