Michigan State Appellate Defender Office and Criminal Defense Resource Center

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SADO Attorneys to be Honored at CDAM Annual Dinner

"Justice for All" Award to be Presented for Investigative Work after Detroit Crime Lab Closure

The Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan’s Awards Committee has selected a remarkable group of individuals as the recipients of their Justice For All Award. This award recognizes the amazing contributions of a group or individual in the form of legal representation or other extraordinary service.  State Appellate Defender Office attorneys Marilena David (Detroit), Michael Mittlestat (Detroit), Peter Van Hoek (Detroit), and Thomas M. Cooley Law School Professor Alan M. Gershel (Lansing), Hon. Kim McGinnis (Taos, NM), attorney Daniel Signs (Philadelphia, PA) and SADO Chief Investigator, Linda Borus (Detroit) will be honored for their efforts investigating convictions where the discredited and closed Detroit Crime Lab Unit might have played a part.  In five years, the attorneys in the unit with the help of Cooley Law School student volunteers reviewed 1,043 convictions. This review resulted in new trials for five clients, including one exoneration, and the release Read more

SADO Conducts Training on Use of COMPAS at Sentencing

Critical Session Scheduled for Defense Attorneys at Cooley Law School Campuses

The Thomas M. Cooley Law School and the Criminal Defense Resource Center of the State Appellate Defender Office presents a criminal justice training event for criminal defense attorneys, probation agents, prosecutors & judges.  Use of COMPAS at Sentencing - What Every Defense Attorney Needs to Know is a a primer with an emphasis on the meaning of the COMPAS scores, reliability of the scores, limitations on their use and the constitutional and state-law objections to raise at sentencing hearings.  COMPAS (Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions) is a computerized assessment and case management system created by the Northpointe Institute for Public Management.  Michigan will begin using the risk Read more

Life Sentences for Youth Cases to be Heard by Michigan Supreme Court

SADO Attorneys Among those Arguing March 6, 2014

This past fall the Michigan Supreme Court granted leave to three Appellants serving life sentences for offenses committed as youths, all of whom are arguing that their sentences are unconstitutional in light of the United States Supreme Court decision in Miller v Alabama.  On SADO's webpage, there is a collection of materials and links which will be updated regularly until the time of arguments in the Michigan Supreme Court.  SADO Deputy Director Jonathan Sacks will be arguing on behalf Read more

SADO Offers Support to Criminal Defense Attorneys Facing Discipline

SADO Partners with Attorney Discipline Agencies on Innovative Project

Support is on the way for criminal defense attorneys in Michigan who face discipline proceedings for conduct arising from a criminal case. Many attorneys handling these challenging cases are in solo practices, receiving modest pay as assigned counsel and lacking access to experienced colleagues. To address the need for resources and a support community, SADO will provide both training and access to online resources for criminal defense attorneys who are referred by either the Attorney Grievance Administrator (AGC) or Attorney Discipline Board (ADB) panels. The support will function much as other tools available within the disciplinary system, such as the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program, which helps attorney with Read more

SADO Hosts Informational Session for Friends and Family

Next Sessions are March 26 in Lansing and March 27 in Detroit

Join SADO for an Informational Session on what to expect after a loved one is convicted of a crime and sentenced to the Michigan Department of Corrections. SADO staff will be on hand to address the process of a criminal appeal, visiting policies of the MDOC, how to communicate with an inmate housed in the MDOC, and will provide a list of basic resources for clients and their families. Read more

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This project was funded by the Byrne JAG grant #2010-DJ-BX-0003, awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and administered by the Michigan state Police (MSP). Points of view or opinions contained within this document do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the MSP or DOJ.