The CDRC Expands!
From the October 2024 Criminal Defense Newsletter
In the October 2024 edition of the Criminal Defense Newsletter, we welcomed three new attorneys to the CDRC team: Taylor Fellows, Steven Helton, and Jacqueline McCann.
Taylor Fellows is the CDRC’s new Youth Defense Research and Training Attorney. Before joining SADO last year, Taylor was an Attorney for the National Center for Youth Law where she fought to abolish fines and fees in youth justice systems across the country. Taylor has also worked as an Equal Justice Works fellow, working to protect the education rights of students experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C. At the CDRC, Taylor will focus on youth appellate defense – part of SADO’s recent expansion into this area.
Steven Helton is the CDRC’s new Research and Training Attorney. While at SADO, Steven has obtained relief for his clients by demonstrating judicial bias and police and prosecutorial misconduct. He has also secured new trials for clients whose rights to public trials and necessary expert witnesses were violated, while successfully persuading the Michigan Supreme Court to develop legal standards that will help other defendants obtain relief in the future if and when their constitutional rights are violated.
Jacqueline McCann is the CDRC’s new Research and Mentoring Attorney. Jackie has been a long-time contributor to and author of SADO books and other publications. She has been with SADO for over 20 years, has litigated many influential cases, including People v Francisco, 474 Mich 82 (2006), People v Steanhouse, 500 Mich 453 (2017), People v Davis, 509 Mich 52 (2022) and, more recently, People v King, 512 Mich 1 (2023); she has also helped train the next generation of assistant defenders. Jackie also serves as an adjunct professor for the Criminal Appellate Practice Clinic at Wayne State University Law School.
Welcome!
Kathy Swedlow
Manager, CDRC
The CDRC Team
Kathy Swedlow, Manager | kswedlow@sado.org
Taylor Fellows, Youth Research & Training Attorney | tfellows@sado.org
Steven Helton, Research & Training Attorney | shelton@sado.org
Jacqueline McCann, Research & Mentoring Attorney | jmccann@sado.org
Heather Waara, Publications Coordinator | hwaara@sado.org
Current Articles
- Reconciling the irreconcilable: Recent state and federal court opinions involving 2021 SORA
- Improving the agent’s description of the offense in the Presentence Report (especially when it comes to acquitted conduct)
- Summer 2025 Fellowships available through the Black Public Defender Association
- SADO is a 2024 Top Michigan Workplace
- Keeley Blanchard is the new MAACS Administrator
- SADO seeks summer interns
- SADO expands to unprecedented levels
- SADO and MAACS Attorneys to argue before MSC at October session
- Opinion: Judge used legal system to mistreat a child
- Changes coming to youth appellate defense
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