Michigan State Appellate Defender Office and Criminal Defense Resource Center

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SADO Attorneys Obtain Positive Outcomes for Clients in the Michigan Supreme Court

SADO attorneys have recently obtained relief for their clients in the Michigan Supreme Court on issues including deadlocked-jury instructions, credibility vouching, and expert testimony on sexual abuse. Congratulations to Adrienne Young, Katherine Marcuz, and Doug Baker and best wishes to their clients in these cases. Read More

MAACS Accepting Roster Attorney Applications

Apply by August 30, 2019

The Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System (MAACS) is accepting applications to join the assigned counsel roster.  This is a competitive process and we encourage applications from conscientious appellate lawyers with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and those who are committed to representing indigent clients and contributing to the reform of Michigan’s indigent defense system. We welcome applications from new attorneys – as well as from more seasoned veterans. Read More

Project Reentry Publishes Newsletter for Returning Citizens

The Drum: Articles, Stories, and Resources for the JLWOP Community

The June 2019 issue of The Drum is now available. The Drum is a publication, produced by SADO’s Project Reentry, featuring articles by and for former juvenile lifers returning to the community. The Drum also identifies a wide variety of resources for returning citizens, including financial budgeting, employment opportunities, and community tips. This month’s issue features an article on the history of Juneteenth, a citizen spotlight on Michael McCracken (home April 2019), Reentry Poetry by Robert Hogans (inside since 1990), an article on Bullying in America by Jerome Walker (inside since 1998), info on upcoming job openings at the new Fiat-Chrysler plant, and much more! Read More

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

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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.