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Table of Contents

Finding a Retained Attorney

Finding an Appointed Attorney

Finding A Retained Attorney

Web Pages of Michigan Criminal Defense Attorneys



Are you a Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney with a Web Page?  Send us a message and we'll include you in our listings.


If you would like SADO to create a Web page for you, please send the registration form, a check for $50, and any other necessary documentation to CDRC. We will create your page upon receipt and notify you via e-mail upon completion.
















CDAM: The Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan [ CDAM's website ]


Criminal defense attorneys in Michigan have their own professional association, the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM).  Approximately 400 attorneys, from both private practice and defender offices, belong to this association.


CDAM's goals are:

    

  • to promote expertise in the area of criminal law, constitutional law and procedure, to improve trial and appellate advocacy, and to improve the quality of legal representation for persons brought into the criminal and quasi-criminal justice system;

    

  • to educate the bench, bar and public of the need for quality and integrity in defense services and representation, and to promote enlightened thought concerning alternatives to the present criminal justice system; and

    

  • to guard against erosion of the rights and privileges guaranteed by the United States and Michigan Constitution and laws.



CDAM's activities include:



    

  • two seminars per year, featuring trial advocacy workshops;

    

  • involvement in active appellate cases as amicus curiae; and

    

  • input into the legislative process by a network of attorneys.
















Bar Association Referral Service




State Bar Lawyer Referral Services
	
For counties with no formal local referral service.........800-968-0738


Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
	
Lawyer Referral Service
	
1356 Penobscot Bldg., 645 Griswold St.
	
Detroit 48226............................................313-961-3545 / FAX 313-965-0842


Genesse County Bar Association
	
Lawyer Referral Service
	
315 E Court Street
	
Flint 49502..............................................810-232-6000 / FAX: 810-232-8310


Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association
	
Attorney Referral Service
	
P.O. Box 1958
	
Traverse City 49685-1958....................231-922-4713


Kent County
	
Grand Rapids Bar Association
	
180 Ottawa NW, Ste. 5100
	
Grand Rapids 49503................................616-632-6000 / FAX: 616-632-6011


Macomb County
	
Macomb County Bar Association
	
Macomb County Courthouse, 40 N. Main, Ste. 435
	
Mt. Clemens 48043.................................586-468-8300 / FAX: 586-468-6926


Oakland County
	
Oakland County Bar Association
	
1760 S. Telegraph Rd., Ste. 100
	
Bloomfield Hills 48302-0181...................248-398-3937 or 248-338-2100 / FAX: 248-334-7757


Washtenaw County
	
Washtenaw County Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Services
	
P.O. Box 8645
	
Ann Arbor 48107....................................734-996-3229 / FAX: 734-663-2430

















Web Directories of Attorneys


These sites contain free databases of attorney listings which are searchable by state and specialty [Michigan criminal defense attorneys appear in each directory]:



Attorney Finder
	
directory home page 





Findlaw
	
directory home page





Martindale-Hubbell
	
directory home page



















Finding an Appointed Attorney



In felony cases and some misdemeanor cases, an indigent defendant is entitled to appointed trial and appellate attorneys (generally, the same person does not handle both levels).  A defendant must assert indigence, and a court may hold a hearing to determine whether he or she has sufficient resources to retain counsel.


Michigan has a "mixed" system for appointment of counsel.  At the trial level, organized Defender Offices exist in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Bay City and Alpena, each handling a certain percentage of the local assigned cases.  In some counties, an attorney or group of attorneys bid on an annual contract for a certain number or percentage of cases.  In many counties, local judges or clerks maintain a list of attorneys willing to accept criminal assignments in exchange for payment under a set fee schedule.  There is no statewide fee schedule or appointment method.  Questions about an appointment must generally be addressed to the judge or clerk who made it.


At the appellate level, appointment is coordinated by the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System (see below for address information).  Each circuit court maintains a rotating roster of appellate attorneys, with the State Appellate Defender Office appearing once every four names (to assume its statutory caseload of 25%).  Questions about an appointment may be addressed to the local appointing authority.



    
Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System
    
1375 S. Washington, Suite 300 
    
Lansing, Michigan  48913
    
Telephone: 517-334-1200
    
Fax: 517-334-1228







 Send a message to Criminal Defense Resource Center






State Appellate Defender Office


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