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The United States Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ruled that the Michigan Court Rules prohibiting attorneys from engaging in “undignified or discourteous conduct” toward the bench and requiring attorneys to treat those involved in the legal process with “courtesy and respect” are too broad and vague to survive a constitutional challenge. The court held that while the Michigan Supreme Court has the right to regulate attorney conduct, its court rules regarding lawyer speech and conduct violate the free speech clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The court’s ruling invalidated the Michigan Supreme Court’s 2006 opinion upholding the rules and will most likely be appealed. Check back for updates about this fascinating free speech case.