MAACS is accepting applications to join the roster

Applications accepted through February 28, 2026

The Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System (MAACS) is accepting applications from conscientious criminal defense attorneys with all levels of criminal appellate experience to join the roster.  Read more


SADO attorneys to argue before the Michigan Supreme Court

March 11, 2026 | Hall of Justice (Lansing, MI)

SADO’s Emma Lawton and Jessica Zimbelman will present argument before the Michigan Supreme Court on March 11, 2026, on issues involving the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA), and the Sex Offenders Registration Act (SORA). Read more


Financial Literacy, Strategy, and Positioning Workshop

February 23, 2026 | SADO Detroit

Join Project Reentry for our February Workshop in partnership with Simone Eaton, better known as “The City’s Banker," on Monday, February 23, from 6-7:30pm. At this workshop, participants will leave with a strong financial foundation, clear on what money is, how it moves, setting goals, and using financial tools with purpose. Read more


Opinion: Correcting injustice is the key work of state's appellate defenders

Detroit News | December 2025

SADO Director Marilena David published an op-ed in the Detroit News, explaining how SADO team members work to uncover wrongful convictions, and chronicling some of the wrongful convictions we've found. Read more


Sentencing youth in Michigan: Age matters

Michigan Bar Journal | December 2025

In December's 2025 "Hot Topics" column, SADO Director Marilena David and Managing Attorney Tina Olson write about mandatory life sentencing of youth in Michigan. Read more


New sentencing commission

From the Criminal Defense Newsletter

In late 2024, the Michigan Legislature passed a set of bills establishing a new sentencing commission. 2024 PA 273, creating MCL 769.34a, and 2024 PA 274, creating MCL 769.34b. Read more


Project Reentry: Successful Reentry through community

From the Criminal Defense Newsletter

At Project Reentry, we are fortunate enough to witness the beginning of a client’s successful reintegration the moment they exit prison. But celebrating a homecoming is just a small part of a far longer, more complex reentry journey. Read more


Ask an appellate attorney: What happens when the court reporter cannot prepare a transcript for the trial?

From the Criminal Defense Newsletter

At the CDRC, we regularly receive questions from defense attorneys and incarcerated individuals around the state. In this column, we reprint our answers to common or interesting questions that might be helpful to a wider audience. Read more


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