St. Joseph student wins $1,000 in statewide essay contest sponsored by M-LAW VIP panel of judges chooses Brad Flora's essay on the importance of jury service as the winner. Southfield, MI: 5/30/00:  Brad Flora, a senior at St. Joseph Public High School has received the $1,000 grand prize in a statewide student essay contest aimed at highlighting the importance of jury service.  The contest was sponsored by Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch (M-LAW), a citizen watchdog group working to improve the civil justice system. "Jury duty plays an important part in the preservation of the American way of life," wrote the son of Brad and Diana Flora.  The St. Joseph student's essay was selected from 20 finalists in a contest that drew entries from 220 high school seniors throughout Michigan.  Flora, a captain of his varsity swim team and senior class president, will use his winnings to defray the cost of attending Princeton University this fall.    "M-LAW believes one of the best ways to boost public confidence in our justice system is to increase citizen participation in jury service," said M-LAW President Robert B. Dorigo Jones.  "M-LAW's essay contest has started a dialogue in classrooms and homes throughout Michigan about the critical role juries play in our system. We congratulate Brad for his outstanding essay and wish him continued success in his future studies."     Judging the essays in M-LAW's contest were Honorable Robert P. Griffin, retired Michigan Supreme Court Justice and former United States Senator; Mark Nixon, Editorial Page Editor of the Lansing State Journal; and Dr. Lawrence W. Reed, President of The Mackinac Center for Public Policy and a member of M-LAW's Board of Directors.     Using a "blind" process to ensure impartiality, the 20 essays in the final round were awarded points based on persuasiveness, creativity and accuracy and grammar.  Second place and $500 went to Joy Stouffer, a home school student from Rochester Hills.  Norissa Aukerman, a senior at Lapeer West High School, captured third place and $250.     M-LAW is a non-partisan coalition of more than 2000 consumers, businesses, professionals, community leaders, entrepreneurs and others working to eliminate the high cost of lawsuit abuse on Michigan families.  For more about M-LAW, visit www.mlaw.org, or call 1-888-321-MLAW.