Part 1: Michigan Supreme Court Justice James L. Ryan talks about his family history, going to Catholic school, working at WXYZ Television, attending the University of Detroit, and entering law school before finishing his undergraduate degree in order to extend his draft deferment during the Korean War years. Ryan also discusses the first years of his law career, including joining the armed forces and serving as a lawyer, practicing at Waldron, Brennan, Brickley and Maher, and being elected justice of the peace in 1963, and Wayne Circuit Court judge in 1966. After being appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court by Governor William Milliken, Ryan says that he became part of a Court which faced some of the most complex issues of the era, including abortion rights, no-fault automobile insurance, the law of comparative negligence, and governmental immunity. Ryan also discusses the nature of the Michigan Supreme Court and his colleagues Jusices Thomas Brennan and John Swainson, who he replaced. Recording ends abruptly. Part 2: Michigan Supreme Court Justice James L. Ryan discusses various cases and legal, social and legislative issues discussed by the Court during his tenure, including Ross vs. Consumers Power, judicial selection, how the election process disrupts the business of the Court, the high turnover rate of justices, the Judicial Tenure Committee, bar discipline, revising the rules of evidence, and the apportionment of the state legislature in 1982. Ryan also examines the inner workings of the Court and discusses the legislative power of that body in certain contexts. Part 3: Michigan Supreme Court Justice James L. Ryan talks about his first days on the Michigan Supreme Court in 1975, the positive chemistry among the judges during his tenure and the debilitating turmoil the court was in prior to his arrival. He also discusses the duties of the court, the collegial decision making process, and the justice's annual retreat. One of the major cases facing the Court during his time on the bench, Ryan says, was the famous Poletown versus the City of Detroit case, in which Detroit sought to condemn private property to promote the construction of new General Motors production facilities. Ryan talks about the intricacies of the case and eminent domain and outlines the issues in other cases he reviewed, such as West vs. Spartan ,Colonial Dodge versus Miler, the People versus Pomeroy, and the People versus Fulcher. He also touches on the issues of workers compensation, the reorganization of the courts in Wayne County, and the ousting of Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley.
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