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Campaign for Justice is holding regional meetings in your area! Click here to see the calendar of upcoming meetings in January and February, that will include updates, speakers' bureau trainings, and next steps. Stay tuned for Lansing area and West Michigan meetings.
Legislation introduced -- Act now to tell your representative you support public defense reform!
On December 9, Representatives Constan and Amash introduced House Bill 5676. The Campaign supports this legislation which will bring about long overdue reforms to Michigan's public defense system. Click here to read HB 5676. Click here for a summary of HB 5676. Click here to read the press release and the Campaign's official statement regarding the bill introduction.
Click here to read the white paper entitled, "Penny- Wise and Pound-Foolish: Waste in Michigan Public Defense Spending" by Dawn Van Hoek, deputy director of the State Appellate Defender Office.
NEW COALITION MEMBER: Welcome to the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, the newest member of the coalition!
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.
News
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Editorial: Lawmakers have much work to do to fix MichiganDetroit News, January 11, 2010
Lawmakers returning to Lansing this week should gid right into pending legislation for making Michigan better. With a $1.8 billion budget shortfall looming, there isn't time for the traditional period of lax activity while awaiting Gov. Jennifer Granholm's State of the State address, scheduled this year for Feb. 3. More >> Monday, January 11, 2010
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In Defense: The Fight For Justice ContinuesRon Scott, Michigan Chronicle, December 23, 2009
On Monday, U.S. Congressman John Conyers held a Judiciary Committee briefing, "Solutions to the Indigent Defense Crisis." There, lawyers, judges, members of the defense bar, advocates, and victims of a system that had denied adequate defense to many assembled to try to find a way for "Pookie and Ray-Ray" to stay out of jail. More >> Monday, January 04, 2010
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MI needs to take steps to assure fairness in assignment of lawyers for the poorDetroit News, December 24, 2009
Sometime next year, lawmakers will decide whether to create a new state-run system of legal representation for people who are accused of crimes but can't afford to hire lawyers on their own. This is the proposed solution to a major problem with the justice that is dispensed to the poor. It's uneven and often inadequate and unfair. More >> Monday, January 04, 2010
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Top Mich. court takes case about defense lawyersAssociated Press, December 21, 2009
The Michigan Supreme Court is jumping into a major dispute over how publicly appointed lawyers represent poor people accused of crimes. More >> Monday, December 21, 2009
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Competent public defense for allDiane Bukowski, Michigan Citizen, December 20, 2009
The movement in Michigan to provide quality legal representation for all is gaining momentum. More >> Monday, December 21, 2009
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Worthy defensive over public defender billJohn Minnis, Detroit Legal News, December 16, 2009
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy went on the defensive Monday, Dec. 14, defending her office and, at the same time, giving tepid support for a bill that would create a statewide public defender's office. More >> Friday, December 18, 2009
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Experts brief Congressional Committee On Indigent Defense System "In Crisis"Sarah Cwiek, Michigan Public Radio Network, December 14, 2009
A panel of judges, legal experts, and elected officials agree that the nation's system for providing indigent defense counsel is "in crisis." More >> Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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Indigent Defense Bill On Tap For Feb.MIRS, December 14, 2009
With Michigan possibly facing a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit over its public defender system, a House committee today opened hearing on ways to revamp a "broken" situation where county judges are in the position to appoint overworked attorneys to represent clients who can't afford to pay. More >> Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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State, Federal Lawmakers to Meet On Public DefenseSarah Hulett, Michigan Public Radio Network, December 14, 2009 More >> Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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Fixing Michigan's Public Defender SystemRick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network, December, 14, 2009
Congressional and legislative hearings today will focus on how to fix Michigan's system for providing attorneys to criminal defendants who cannot afford them. More >> Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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Public defense must be upgradedDetroit Free Press, December 1, 2009
Scandalously low pay. No standards. That's the world of court-appointed attorneys in Michigan, and it's a sham of the constitutional right to adequate legal counsel. More >> Tuesday, December 01, 2009
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Quotes
"Putting politics aside, we must address the fact that, simply put, there is a crisis in indigent defense in this country."
- Attorney General Eric Holder
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