NLADA report roll-out

Evaluation of Trial-Level Indigent Defense Systems in Michigan is a publication of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association.
Copyright 2008. Used with permission.

A Race to the Bottom
Speed & Savings Over Due Process: A Constitutional Crisis

June 2008

Researched and written by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Executive Summary

The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) finds that the state of Michigan fails to provide competent representation to those who cannot afford counsel in its criminal courts. The state of Michigan’s denial of its constitutional obligations has produced myriad public defense systems that vary greatly in defining who qualifies for services and the competency of the services rendered. Though the level of services varies from county to county – giving credence to the proposition that the level of justice a poor person receives is dependent entirely on which side of a county line one’s crime is alleged to have been committed instead of the factual merits of the case – NLADA finds that none of the public defender services in the sample counties are constitutionally adequate.

For the full executive summary and report, go to: http://www.michbar.org/publicpolicy/indigentdefense.cfm


Read the State Bar of Michigan press release

Learn more about the failing public defense services in the Michigan Fact Sheet.

Read or listen to news coverage of the report release!

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to express your concern about this issue!