Governor Whitmer Appoints JoAnn Lank to the Appellate Defender Commission

SADO welcomes and congratulates new Appellate Defender Commissioner JoAnn Lank. 

From the Governor's Press Release: 

JoAnn Lank, of Livonia, is the district clerk for the Michigan Court of Appeals in Detroit. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law. Ms. Lank is appointed to represent the Michigan Court of Appeals for a term commencing May 26, 2022 and expiring May 24, 2026. She succeeds Douglas Messing whose term expired May 24, 2022. 

The Michigan Appellate Defender Commission is responsible for the development of a system of indigent appellate defense services which shall include services provided by the office of the state appellate defender and locally appointed private counsel. The Commission will be responsible for the development of minimum standards to which all indigent criminal defense appellate services shall conform and will compile and keep current a statewide roster of attorneys eligible for and willing to accept appointment by an appropriate court to serve as criminal appellate defense counsel for indigents.

This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.