Michigan State Appellate Defender Office and Criminal Defense Resource Center

Top Stories

Register Now for 3-Day Appellate Writing Workshop April 11-13, Auburn Hills

Register by March 29

MAACS and SADO attorneys are invited to attend a 3-day writing workshop designed specifically for criminal appellate practitioners. Attendees will walk away from the workshop with practical tools and skills for improving the quality of their writing. Attendees will learn how to develop a compelling statement of facts, identify and select persuasive legal issues, and improve oral advocacy skills. Attendees will use a mock trial case file or a case from their own caseload to work on during the small group brainstorming and writing sessions. Read More

MAACS Attorneys Obtain Positive Outcomes for Clients on Appeal

MAACS attorneys have obtained positive outcomes for clients on appeal in several selected recently decided appellate cases on issues including Crosby hearing procedure, offense variable scoring, good cause for relief from judgment, witness unavailability, departure sentences, and consecutive sentencing. Read More

Michigan Safety & Justice Roundtable Releases Final Reports

The Hudson-Webber Foundation convened the Michigan Safety & Justice Roundtable in September 2018 in partnership with the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the Michigan League for Public Policy, and the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency. The two-day Roundtable was convened to support and advance safe and equitable youth and adult justice systems in Michigan and to craft “common-sense” justice policy recommendations to move Michigan forward. The Hudson-Webber Foundation has now released two companion reports arising from the Roundtable that are extremely relevant to those working in the criminal justice system. Read More

Project Reentry Publishes Newsletter for Returning Citizens

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

The February 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 highlighting Black Activists in Criminal Justice Reform in honor of Black History Month, a spotlight on Gary Peters (home since November 2018 after serving 41 years), and an article and poem by Demetrius Knuckles (home since October 2018). 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.