Michigan State Appellate Defender Office and Criminal Defense Resource Center

Top Stories

Request for Proposals Question and Answers

In response to Request for Proposals to Conduct a Michigan Appellate Public Defense Caseload Standards Study, here are the responses to questions. Read More

Request for Proposals to Conduct a Michigan Appellate Public Defense Caseload Standards Study

Submissions due May 31, 2021

The State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) is requesting proposals from qualified vendors to assist SADO in determining appropriate workload standards for providers of indigent legal representation in criminal appeals in the state of Michigan. SADO seeks to procure the services of a vendor to conduct a study which can be used as a basis for stipulating numerical caseload/workload standards for adult criminal appeals in Michigan courts. Read More

Seeking Mitigation Interns for Fall and Spring 2021-2022

Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Apply before July 26.

SADO is an appellate public defender office working statewide to address injustices and disparities in the criminal legal system based on race, class, ability, and other characteristics. SADO’s Juvenile Lifer Unit (JLU) is accepting applications for Mitigation Interns for the 2021-2022 fall and spring semesters. Read More

COVID-19 Pleadings and Resources for Attorneys and Advocates

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for the defender community to advocate for the release of incarcerated individuals. Keeping people unnecessarily incarcerated dangers public health and safety. SADO has created and gathered sample pleadings, information, and resources here. This page will be continually updated. Read More

Project Reentry's The Drum Newsletter April 2021 Issue Now Available

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

The April 2021 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 edition features an essay by Andolian Napraja, a new Master Series essay installment by Timothy Greer, a Citizen Spotlight on Christopher Tobar, and much more! Read More

SADO Takes Internal and External Action on Race and Diversity

In July 2020, SADO staff got together for yet another Zoom meeting. But this was no ordinary meeting. It was the first gathering of SADO’s Racial Justice Initiative (RJI)—a space dedicated to open dialogue about how race and racism operate within the walls of our office and in the criminal legal system. 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.