LANSING — State Rep. Brian K. Elder (D-Bay City) has been appointed by Speaker of the House Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) to serve on the Michigan Law Revision Commission, a bipartisan body that examines  the laws of the state in order to eliminate redundancies and defects, and to recommend needed reform.

“I have had the pleasure of serving Bay County for years not only as an elected official, but a lawyer with my own practice,” said Rep. Elder. “While I am grateful to be serving now as a state representative, I look forward to sitting on this commission, as it will allow me to remain engaged in the process not only of writing our laws, but updating them as well. I’m extremely appreciative that Speaker Leonard saw fit to give me this opportunity.” 

The commission meets regularly to discuss and recommend legal changes that modify or eliminate antiquated and inequitable rules of law, and to bring the civil and criminal law of the state in line with modern practices. Rep. Elder was the only House Democrat appointed to the commission, with a term lasting through December 2018.

“I’m a history buff, and I understand that perspective and context are extremely important when studying both history and law,” said Rep. Elder. “Serving on this commission will allow me not only to look at Michigan’s past through a legal and historical lens, but to do so in a way that both preserves our history while streamlining our legal code, and I am very much looking forward to it.”