Whereas, Legal support professionals provide vital administrative and technical assistance to our courts, government, businesses and private law; and,

Whereas, The National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS), together with its state and local associations, has initiated an educational program to increase opportunities for legal support professionals to observe and learn about courtroom proceedings; and,

Whereas, Legal support professionals, along with judges and lawyers, participate in one of life's most satisfying endeavors - the administration of justice; and,

Whereas, Many legal support professionals have never had any first-hand exposure to courtroom situations to see the inner workings of the judicial branch of our government with which they are so closely associated; and,

Whereas, During Court Observance Week, legal support professionals throughout Michigan will participate in programs to enhance their knowledge of the system, which they so ably serve; and,

Whereas, NALS of Michigan seeks to continually enhance the skills and increase the competence of legal support professionals;

Now, Therefore, be it Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, governor of the state of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the week of October 12, 2009, Court Observance Week in Michigan.  I encourage all citizens to recognize the contributions of legal support professionals to our system of justice.