Michigan redistricting panel doubles down, won't budge on secret memos

Attorneys for the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission on Wednesday defended the panel’s decision to keep two voting-rights memos secret, despite an opinion from the state attorney general that they should be public.

Julianne Pastula, the commission’s general counsel, and David Fink, another attorney for the panel, doubled down on their claims that attorney-client privilege shields the documents. The comments came during a virtual meeting with representatives for Bridge Michigan, Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News and the Michigan Press Association.

For weeks, the commission has rebuffed efforts by news outlets to acquire the memos. Bridge alone has requested the documents at least five times.

Fink told the group that attorneys “are certainly much less inclined to release these few (documents).”

Fink, who served on the cabinet of former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, said the decision “could well set a precedent” that will affect the commission for years to come.

Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-redistricting-panel-doubles-down-wont-budge-secret-memos