Community Outreach
Professional service
SADO staff serve as leaders in the Michigan legal community, in many settings.
Within the opportunities provided by the State Bar of Michigan, staff attorneys in 2011 serve as the Chair of the Young Lawyers Section and Bar Commissioner (Brandy Robinson), Co-Chair of Criminal Issues Initiative, Co-Chair of the Custodial Interrogation Recording Task Force, and member of Justice Initatives (Valerie Newman), member of the Criminal Law Section Council (Jonathan Sacks), member of the Appellate Practice Section Council (Marilena David-Martin), member of a Character and Fitness Committee (Randy Davidson), and member of the Criminal Jury Instructions Committee (Chris Smith).
Professional service to community also includes membership on the Michigan and Detroit Chapter Board for the National Lawyers Guild, and chairing of its Immigration and Court Rules Committees (Desiree Ferguson), membership on and chairing of hearing panels of the Attorney Discipline Board (Dawn Van Hoek, Gail Rodwan), membership on Detroit Metro and statewide boards of the ACLU (Christine Pagac), service as President of the Michigan Chapter of the American Constitution Society (Valerie Newman), and President of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation (Dawn Van Hoek).
Social Service
Dinner at the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit
SADO staff also come together to serve the community, including (literally) serving families staying at the Detroit Ronald McDonald House adjoining the Detroit Medical Center. On September 27, 2011, volunteers made and served a banquet to families with young members hospitalized at Children's Hospital. Coordinated by Valerie Newman, the group included Marilena David-Martin, Stephanie Farkas, Susan Meinberg, Jackie and Aurora Ouvry, Amanda Smith, Dawn and Peter Van Hoek and Heather Waara.