Manistee in Manistee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Improving Justice
Michigan Legal Milestone
Ruggles was a successful lumberman who could neither read nor write, but had an innate sense of justice. Harley was a lawyer, editor and reformer who helped make Manistee one of the first cities in the nation to adopt the city manager system. Ruggles provided the funding while Harley garnered nationwide support for the American Judicature Society, established in Chicago in 1913.
Today, through its conferences, publications, research and other programs, AJS works to assure an independent, responsive and highly ethical judiciary, and exercises a profound and positive influence on the administration of justice in the federal courts and the courts of all 50 states.
Every American is a beneficiary of the legacy of that long-ago boat ride by two Manistee residents.
Erected 1991 by the State Bar of Michigan and the Manistee County Bar Association. (Marker Number 13.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Legal Milestones series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 44° 14.842′ N, 86° 19.641′ W. Marker is in Manistee, Michigan, in Manistee County. Marker is at the intersection of River Street and Pine Street, on the right when traveling west on River Street. Marker is near the Manistee Municipal Marina. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 480 River Street, Manistee MI 49660, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Historic Manistee (within shouting distance of this marker); Pere Marquette Line Steamers (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Gardner Building (about 600 feet away); The Thompson Building (about 600 feet away); The Lyman Building (about 600 feet away); The Tunnel (about 700 feet away); The Haley Block (about 700 feet away); The Maple Street Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manistee.
Also see . . .
1. American Judicature Society on Facebook. (Submitted on September 3, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. American Judicature Society is dissolving (ABA Journal article, 2014). (Submitted on September 3, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. About the American Judicature Society. (Submitted on September 3, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. American Judicature Society Collection housed at Houston College of Law. (Submitted on September 3, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 384 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 3, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.