Michigan State Appellate Defender Office and Criminal Defense Resource Center

Top Stories

Upcoming MAACS Training Events

MAACS will present its New Roster Attorney Orientation (invitation only) in Detroit on Thursday, October 19, 2017, at the State Appellate Defender Office from 9am - 5:30pm. MAACS will present its Annual Fall Training at the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Friday, October 20, 2017, and at the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, on Friday, October 27, 2017. For registration links, click here

SADO's Juvenile Lifer Unit Secures Term of Years Sentences for Clients formerly Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Michigan's Juvenile Lifers--individuals sentenced to mandatory life without parole for offenses they committed as children age 17 years old or under--are entitled to resentencing following Montgomery v Louisiana, __ US __; (Docket No. 14-280, issued 1/25/16), and pursuant to the procedures set forth in MCL 769.25a. In July 2016, prosecutor offices around the state filed motions seeking the re-imposition of life without parole sentences for approximately 229 of Michigan's approximately 363 juvenile lifers. Resentencing hearings will take place over an expanded period of time. In these cases, the prosecution will continue to seek the re-imposition of a life sentence while defense counsel will seek the imposition of a term of years sentence, the minimum of which can be between 25 to 40 years and the maximum of which is 60 years, pursuant to MCL 769.25a. Read More

Pride Source Features SADO's Sofia Nelson - "People's Champ"

A Pride Source Magazine article features SADO’s Sofia Nelson as an assistant appellate defender and unspoken LGBTQ ally. Growing up, Sofia saw the satisfaction that her mother took from serving others in the nursing profession; she knew that she wanted to work in a profession where she could advocate for others. “It wasn’t about making money, but I grew up seeing that work can be more than that,” Sofia told Pride Source. “It can be something that fulfills your mission and passion in life and you can combine your politics with your work." Read More

View Past Stories

Media Releases

This project was funded by the Byrne JAG grant #2010-DJ-BX-0003, awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and administered by the Michigan state Police (MSP). Points of view or opinions contained within this document do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the MSP or DOJ.