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DUNCAN LITIGATION UPDATE: On June 11th, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued an important ruling on the Duncan case which alleges that plaintiffs are being denied their state and federal constitutional rights to counsel. Click here for the opinion and click here for the dissenting opinion. Note: The Campaign for Justice is not involved in the litigation effort.
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Wayne County cuts will sacrifice lawyers for young offendersBeth Arnovits, Detroit Free Press, June 30, 2009
On May 27, 2009, a tersely worded letter from a Wayne County circuit judge to the president of the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LADA) gave notice that the contract under which the association provides public defense service to low-income children would be terminated July 1. More >> Wednesday, July 01, 2009
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Groups Applaud Move for State Indigent Defense ProgramGONGWER, June 16, 2009
The House Judiciary Indigent Defense Subcommittee started its hearings Tuesday on proposed legislation that would create a statewide indigent defense system, with organizations applauding the move. More >> Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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State, Not County Runs Public Defense Under PlanMIRS, June 15, 2009
A House Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday will look at how state government can afford picking up the cost of the entire state public defender system. More >> Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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Hearings on public defense to beginRick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network, June 16, 2009
A state House subcommittee will begin work Tuesday on a plan to ensure that criminal defendants who can't pay for an attorney are still well-represented in court. A report released a year ago says Michigan has one of the worst public defender systems in the nation. More >> Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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Court sides with accused criminals over attorneysDawson Bell, Detroit Free Press, June 13, 2009 More >> Monday, June 15, 2009
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Opinion: Lawmakers put on noticeLansing State Journal, June 13, 2009
It would be better if lawmakers would take reform on of their own accord, rather than being forced to do what's right under an eventual court order. More >> Monday, June 15, 2009
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Lawsuit on behalf of poor defendants stays aliveEd White, Associated Press, June 12, 2009
In a case with possible statewide implications, the Michigan Court of Appeals said Friday a lawsuit can go forward challenging how publicly appointed lawyers represent poor people in three counties. More >> Friday, June 12, 2009
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Appeals court revives lawsuit over public defender systemJohn Hausman, Muskegon Chronicle, June 12, 2009
A Michigan appeals court panel has sided with indigent criminal defendants suing to force the state to provide more money and oversight to public defender systems in Muskegon and other counties, ordering that their lawsuit must proceed to trial. More >> Friday, June 12, 2009
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Court sides with defendants on inadequate counselDawson Bell, Detroit Free Press, June 12, 2009
In a decision with potentially expensive implications for courts and taxpayers, a Michigan appeals court panel has sided with indigent criminal defendants who say the state's system for appointed counsel is inadequate and underfunded. More >> Friday, June 12, 2009
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A Public Defense System for Michigan's 21st CenturyRoberta M. Gubbins, Ingham County Legal News, June 4, 2009
"According to your program," said Professor Norman Lefstein, keynote speaker at the Second Annual Michigan Public Defense Task Force Conference held in Lansing on May 21st, "my remarks are titled 'A Public Defense System for Michigan's 21st Century,' but I want to start with a few words that do not relate to the 21st century as such. The right to counsel in the United Stated derived from the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was adopted in 1791. However, the right to counsel itself is really only 46 years old if you measure from Gideon v Wainwright and some of the other cases even more youthful than that." More >> Monday, June 08, 2009
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Macomb officials debate creation of public defender's officeMaureen Feighan, Detroit News, June 4, 2009
Lawyers, judges and prosecutors in Macomb County are at odds over a small section of the county's proposed charter that could potentially overhaul how attorneys are appointed to criminal cases for defendants who can't afford to hire their own. More >> Thursday, June 04, 2009
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Nationwide, public defender offices are in crisisDeborah Hastings, The Associated Press, June 4, 2009
It wasn't the brightest decision she'd ever made. She admits that. But if she'd had enough money to hire a lawyer she might not have lost six months of her life. More >> Thursday, June 04, 2009
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