Big billing news for the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System

From the March 2025 Criminal Defense Newsletter
Thanks to the hard work of the MAACS Staff, the Appellate Defender Commission adopted a new Attorney Fee and Reimbursement Policy, effective March 18, 2025. The full copy of the new Attorney Fee and Reimbursement Policy is available here. 

Some highlights include: 
  • Presumptive reasonable hours have been removed from the policy. 
  • A definition of reasonableness has been added. 
  • The reimbursement policy for printing and copying expenses has been clarified.
  • Counties are required to make payment within 14 days of voucher approval. 
  • A provision for payment for Michigan Supreme Court applications has been added. 
In addition to the major changes above, a pilot project was also approved to allow counties to voluntarily participate in turning over review of vouchers to MAACS. Our goal is to make this project permanent by October 1, 2025, with MAACS doing voucher review for all counties by that date. 

Keeley Blanchard 
Administrator, MAACS