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Michigan Indigent Defense Advisory Commission updates: Visit our commission updates page for information from past meetings. The next Commission meeting is May 18, 2012. All meetings will begin at 9:30 a.m.. Further meeting information will be posted on our online calendar as we receive it.
The commission adopted policy recommendations at its meeting on March 23, 2012. Those recommendations are available here.
At its April 20 meeting, the Commission discussed its findings. That information will be posted on our website as it becomes available.
News
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Why Christians Should Care about Indigent DefenseColumn by Dr. David Schuringa of the Crossroads Bible Institute More >> Thursday, April 19, 2012
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State must protect constitutional rightsPeter Cunningham, Lansing State Journal, March 24, 2012
(Op-ed)
"All our constitutional rights are important. Failing to uphold the United States Constitution’s 6th Amendment right to effective counsel wastes tax dollars, puts public safety at risk, and is fundamentally unfair." More >> Saturday, March 24, 2012
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High Court Expands Defendants' Plea Bargain RightsNina Totenberg, NPR, March 21, 2012
"For the first time, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that defendants have a constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel in plea bargains. In a 5-4 decision Wednesday, the court went further, declaring that when a lawyer acts unethically or gives clearly wrong advice, the defendant may be entitled to a second chance at accepting a plea offer." More >> Thursday, March 22, 2012
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Justices' Ruling Expands Rights of Accused in Plea BargainsAdam Liptak, New York Times, March 21, 2012
“Criminal justice today is for the most part a system of pleas, not a system of trials,” Justice
Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority. “The right to adequate assistance of counsel cannot be defined or enforced without taking account of the central role plea bargaining takes in securing convictions and determining sentences.” More >> Thursday, March 22, 2012
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Public defender system could get overhaul in 2012Laura Weber, Michigan Radio, December 29, 2011
“[A] patchwork of 83 systems and systems inside of those systems just is an embarrassment," said Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills). "We need to really get a better handle to try to ensure justice.” More >> Thursday, December 29, 2011
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Indigent defense system must changeLansing State Journal, December 12, 2011
"Poor people in Michigan accused of a crime don't always get adequate and competent legal representation. Gov. Rick Snyder recognizes that undermines our criminal justice system and has taken a critical first step to fixing the indigent defense system by appointing a study commission."
More >> Monday, December 12, 2011
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Why Michigan's indigent defense system must be reformedEditorial Board, Grand Rapids Press, December 4, 2011
"Poor people in Michigan accused of a crime don’t always get adequate and competent legal representation. Gov. Rick Snyder recognizes that undermines our criminal justice system and has taken a critical first step to fixing the indigent defense system by appointing a study commission. ... The Legislature ought to have the political courage to move forward sensible reforms — long overdue — from this panel." More >> Sunday, December 04, 2011
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Class and the CourtsLester Graham, Michigan Radio, November 21, 2011
"So, imagine this. You’ve been accused of a crime. You know you didn’t do it. But, the police think you did. You cannot afford a lawyer. So, you are appointed a lawyer. In a few counties, it might be someone from a public defenders office. In other counties, your lawyer might be someone who was appointed by a judge- which some see as a conflict. The lawyer got the job because of the judge which puts the lawyer’s independence in question. In almost half of Michigan counties, it might be a lawyer who put in the lowest bid for a contract with the county. Critics say for most counties, not enough resources are provided to a public defense lawyer to put together a proper defense." More >> Monday, November 21, 2011
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Commission can help end an injustice for poor defendants in MichiganDetroit Free Press editorial, October 24, 2011
"What kind of defense you get often depends on which side of a county line you're in," said Peter Cunningham, executive director of the Michigan Campaign for Justice, which has pushed for indigent defense reforms for more than four years. "You can't have a fair system without some sort of parity." More >> Monday, October 24, 2011
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State public defender system needs revampingBattle Creek Enquirer editorial, October 19, 2011
"Snyder wants the 14-member Indigent Defense Advisory Commission to come up with recommendations for improvement by next July 15. We hope those recommendations lead to a better system that upholds the standards of justice throughout the state." More >> Wednesday, October 19, 2011
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