The Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System
The Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System (MAACS) administers the system for appointing criminal appellate counsel in all Michigan circuit courts, from a roster of private attorneys and the State Appellate Defender Office (SADO). Approximately 75% of indigent felony appeals are assigned to the MAACS roster, while approximately 25% of cases are assigned to SADO.
In Administrative Order 2014-18, the Michigan Supreme Court consolidated MAACS with SADO for management purposes. MAACS is subject to the oversight of the Appellate Defender Commission.
About MAACS, Private Counsel DivisionMinimum Standards - Effective January 1, 2005, with September 20, 2023, MAACS Comments
MAACS Regulations - Effective September 20, 2017, Amended September 20, 2023
Administrative Orders (Nos. 1981-7, 1989-3, 2004-6, 2014-18, 2014-18 amended, 2015-9, 2015-9 extension, 2017-3)
Annual Reports
Capitol National Bank Building
200 N Washington Square, Suite 250
Lansing, MI 48913 | 517-334-6069
Marilena David, Director | mdavid@sado.org
Keeley Blanchard, Administrator & Deputy Director (Private Counsel Div.), kblanchard@sado.org
Tracy Baldwin, Assignment Coordinator | tbaldwin@sado.org
Stephanie Farkas, Roster Support and Performance Manager | sfarkas@sado.org
Benjamin Malone, Accountant | bmalone@sado.org
Jacqueline McCann, Litigation Support Counsel | jmccann@sado.org
Megan Ocelnik, Mitigation Specialist | mocelnik@sado.org
Alanna O’Rourke, Litigation Support Counsel | aorourke@sado.org
MariaRosa J. Palmer, Assignment and Office Manager | mrpalmer@sado.org
Joshua Pease, Youth Appellate Defense Counsel | jpease@sado.org
Sabrina Schneider, Roster Coordinator | sschneider@sado.org
Alanna Sredzinski, Mitigation Specialist | asredzinski@sado.org
Emily Swanson, Mitigation Specialist | eswanson@sado.org
Historically, MAACS has maintained a separate list of eligible roster attorneys for each of Michigan's 57 felony trial courts, and attorney participation on these local lists has depended largely on the unique attorney fee policies adopted by each court. In September 2015, the Supreme Court authorized a pilot project to measure the feasibility, costs, and benefits of structural reforms to this system that would enhance the speed and efficiency of assignments, consolidate assignment lists by region, and standardize attorney fee policies between trial courts. After launching with 14 trial courts in the Upper Peninsula and Eastern Lower Michigan, the pilot grew to include 32 courts from all corners of the state. In November 2017, the Supreme Court permanently approved these structural changes, allowing MAACS to continue its efforts to regionalize all assignment lists and encourage trial courts to adopt uniform fee policies.
For more information, visit the links on the right or below:
