Michigan Indigent Defense Commission

How to Win Your Case in Voir Dire
2016-08-04 03:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 91st District Court, 325 Court Street Suite 201, Sault Ste Marie, MI, 49783, United States
Spend the afternoon with veteran trial attorneys Barbara Klimaszewski and Marla McCowan as they reveal their strategies and techniques for effective jury selection in this FREE session for criminal defense attorneys.
Read the flyer here.

Technology for Lawyers: Free (or Cheap) Resources to Improve Your Practice
2016-07-25 09:00 - 10:00 | Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, 1441 St Antoine St, Detroit, MI, 48226, United States
The MIDC and the WCCDBA are pleased to present a 1 hour session for criminal defense attorneys. This training session will be held in the Continuing Legal Education Center on the 8th Floor of the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice.
See the flyer for more details.
Power Point Presentation: FMHJ Tech July 2016

Criminal Law Update
2016-07-22 08:00 - 10:00 | St. Clair County Community College, 323 Erie Street - Welcome Center, Port Huron, 48059, United States
Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Regional Consultant Cheryl Carpenter, in coordination with the St. Clair County Bar Association, and through the generosity of the St. Clair Community College, is pleased to present a FREE training event for criminal defense attorneys:
Criminal Law Update
By Ron Bretz
Emeritus Professor of Law
Friday July 22, 2016 – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
St. Clair County Community College
Welcome Center Room 150

This session will cover all recent and relevant Michigan criminal case law updates beginning with pre-trial procedure through trial issues including the rules of evidence, new crimes and legislative developments, plea proceedings, constitutional issues in criminal procedure, sentencing law and post-conviction remedies.
Click here to register online for this FREE event.
About the Speaker: Ron Bretz graduated from Wayne State University Law School and was admitted into the Michigan Bar in 1976. From 1976 to 1996, Ron served as an assistant defender at the State Appellate Defender Office. He handled many high profile cases including one in the U.S. Supreme Court, Michigan v. Jackson, 475 U.S. 625 (1986). Prof. Bretz received an award from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan in 1987 for Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Defense Appellate Work for the Jackson case. In 1996, Bretz became a fulltime faculty member at Cooley Law School, teaching Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Forensic Evidence. He obtained tenure in 2004 and received the Beatty Award for Outstanding Teaching six times. He retired from full-time teaching in January 2014 and now holds the title of Emeritus Professor. Prof. Bretz has presented at numerous CLE programs for CDAM, the Michigan Judicial Institute, the Michigan Judges Association, the Michigan District Judges Association, the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System, and state and local bar associations.
The session is open to all and is FREE but advanced registration is required. Please register no later than July 20, 2016. Click here to register.
For questions or concerns about this event, please contact Cheryl Carpenter, MIDC Regional Consultant for St. Clair County.
See the flyer for this event.
Download the materials here.

CDAM Summer Training
2016-07-16 05:00 - 11:00 | Otsego Country Club, Gaylord, MI, United States
Don’t miss this great day of training in Gaylord! The topics and presenters include:

Stephanie Farkas on Understanding DNA Evidence
Robert Whims on Criminal Law Accident Reconstruction, Technology, & Concepts through Story Problems
Dave Harvey on Eyewitness Identification Protocols
Takura Nyamfukudza on Nuts & Bolts of Handling Eyewitness ID

See the summer training flyer here.
Materials available to Summer Trainees by contacting CDAM.

Commission Meeting
2016-06-21 08:00 - 10:00, 2016-04-18 20:00 - 2016-04-19 10:00, 2016-02-16 08:00 - 10:00 | MIDC Office, 200 N Washington, Lansing, MI, United States

Skills Training for Defense Lawyers
2016-06-17 04:00 - 12:00 | Saginaw County Circuit Courthouse – Probate Courtroom, 111 S. Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI, 48602, United States
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission and the Saginaw County Bar Association present the following training opportunity:
Skills Training for Criminal Defense Lawyers
Designed as a model for compliance with the basic skills acquisition requirements of MIDC Proposed Standard 1, this training event is largely geared for new lawyers accepting appointments in adult criminal cases. Topics to be covered include initial interviews with clients, ethics and client-centeredness, preliminary exams, motion practice, advising clients in guilty pleas and an introduction to voir dire.
Breaks and snacks will be provided; lunch on your own for about an hour.
Saginaw Circuit Court – Probate Courtroom
111 S. Michigan, Saginaw, 48602
This training event is FREE but advance registration is required.
Agenda and materials here: Saginaw June 17 materials
Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct
Michigan Court Rules
Preliminary Examinations with Andrea LaBean: Preliminary Exams
Motion Practice with James Piazza: handout: Motion Practice handouts pages 1-4

Public Hearing on First Set of Proposed Standards
2016-05-17 - 2016-05-18
On January 11, 2016 the Michigan Supreme Court issued a news release and published the first set of proposed minimum standards for indigent defense delivery systems for public comment. The comment period expires May 1, 2016 and a public hearing is scheduled for May 18, 2016.
Find out more at the Michigan Supreme Court’s website.

Lawyer Technology 2.0
2016-03-29 12:30 - 14:00
A training for all criminal defense attorneys
Presented by: John Powell, Web Content Manager, CDRC
Join the State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) for this tech training where participants will learn about Advance Google Searches, using OneDrive and Google Drive to edit, back-up and share documents online and for collaboration, and will learn how to take PowerPoint presentations to the next level. Participants are encouraged to B.Y.O.D. (bring your own device) to actively join in and perform the learned tech functions in real-time with the assistance of instructors.
About the Instructor
John Powell is the Web, Social Media and Technologist for the College of Engineering & Science at the University of Detroit Mercy and for ReBUILDetroit, a 5-year, $21.2 million grant sponsored by the National Institutes of Health to educate underrepresented students in the biomedical field and serves as the Web Content Manager with the CDRC.

Macomb County Q & A for Criminal Defense Attorneys
2016-03-18 06:00 - 07:00 | Macomb County Circuit Court, 5th Floor Jury Room, 40 N. Main Street, Mt. Clements, MI, United States
On Friday March 18th, MIDC Regional Consultant Cheryl Carpenter will lead a discussion for criminal defense attorneys about the proposed minimum standards for indigent defense. See the flyer for more information.

CDAM Spring Conference
2016-03-10 03:45 - 2016-03-12 07:30 | Troy Marriott, 200 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI, 48084, United States
The Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan will hold their annual Spring Conference at the Troy Marriott March 10-12, 2016. Attendees can register online and view the conference brochure which contains a detailed schedule of events.
Executive Director Jonathan Sacks will present MIDC Updates during the Friday March 11th announcements.
MIDC Training Director Marla McCowan, together with SADO’s CDRC Administrator Marilena David-Martin, will present during an alternate session on “Computer Basics” Thursday March 10th beginning at 1 p.m. View a trailer for the session below:
https://michiganidc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Technology....what-Are-You-Afraid-Of_.mp4

CDAM Trial College Train the Trainer
2016-01-09 03:45 - 09:30 | MIDC Office, 200 N Washington, Lansing, MI, United States
CDAM is looking for positive, energetic, helpful people to add to their faculty for the trial college and trial practice programs. CDAM invites members in good standing to attend a training session for faculty for trial college and trial practice faculty.
There is a requirement that you must have a minimum of 7 years practice experience to participate in this training.
Attendance at this program does not automatically qualify you to be faculty, but it is the beginning of the training process. So if you like to teach,are committed to helping others, and willing to invest the time needed to train and participate in the programs, we hope to see you at the training January 9th.
Note: lunch is not included so please feel free to bring a brown bag lunch.

MIDC Meeting
2015-12-15 13:00 - 17:00, 2015-06-09 13:00 - 14:00 | MIDC Office, 200 N Washington, Lansing, MI, United States

Identifying, Investigating, and Litigating Cases Involving “Abusive Head Trauma”
2015-12-09 06:30 - 08:30 | 41B District Court – 2nd Floor Jury Room, 22380 Starks Drive, Clinton Township, 48036, United States
The Young Lawyer’s Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Criminal Defense Resource Center of the State Appellate Defender Office present a criminal justice training event for criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors & judges:
Identifying, Investigating, and Litigating Cases Involving “Abusive Head Trauma”
The Michigan Supreme Court recently recognized the prominent controversy within the medical community regarding the reliability of abusive head trauma diagnoses, which are involved in many child abuse and child death cases. Attend this important training for an overview of the controversy, and learn how to spot cases where the medical evidence may be unreliable. Learn how to challenge unreliable medical evidence in court, how to get the evidence you need, how to identify experts to consult, and how to request fees to pay those experts.
Presented by: Erin Van Campen
State Appellate Defender Office
The seminar, including lunch, is free of charge – advance registration is required.
For questions, please contact Heather Waara, hwaara@sado.org or 313-256-9833
Event Flyer

CDAM Fall Conference
2015-11-12 - 2015-11-14 | Park Place Hotel, Traverse City, MI, United States
Twice each year, the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan offer an extensive three day training event covering the latest topics in criminal law, legal updates, and critical information to use in every day practice. Registration is open for the Fall 2015 conference in Traverse City, Michigan. MIDC Executive Director Jonathan Sacks will provide an update on the work of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission on Friday November 13, 2015. Register today!
2015 Fall Conference Brochure

MIDC Meeting
2015-10-20 08:00 - 10:00 | MIDC Office, 200 N Washington, Lansing, MI, United States
Notice of October 2015 Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Meeting

Reforming Michigan's Broken Indigent Defense System
2015-10-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Royal Oak Community Center, 3500 Marais, Royal Oak, MI, 48073, United States
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission is speaking with the Gray Panthers of Metropolitan Detroit about Indigent Defense Reform and the work of the Commission. Join us Saturday October 17, 2015 at the Royal Oak Community Center at 10 a.m. for the discussion.
See the Flyer for additional details.

Exploring Indigent Defense Reform
2015-10-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Suburban Collection Showplace Diamond Center, 46100 Grand River, Novi, MI, 48374, United States
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission is pleased to be participating in the State Bar of Michigan’s Annual Meeting in Novi on Friday October 9, 2015 from 10 a.m. – noon at the Suburban Collection Showplace Diamond Center in the Onyx Ballroom. Executive Director Jonathan Sacks and Commissioner Nancy J. Diehl are among the panel members discussing Indigent Defense Reform during the Criminal Law Section’s Program immediately after the business meeting. See the full schedule here.
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission has been tasked with proposing minimum standards for indigent defense and working with Michigan’s 83 counties to implement plans that comply with the standards. Join us for an interactive discussion of the new standards from the perspective of all stakeholders: defense, prosecution, judges, and administration. How do the new standards affect you?
Speakers: Jonathan Sacks, Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, Lansing
Hon. Sarah J. Smolenski, 63rd District Court, Grand Rapids
Frederick D. Johnson Jr., Director Muskegon Public Defenders, County of Muskegon, Muskegon
Nancy J. Diehl, Former Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor & SBM Past President, Detroit

CAP Session - Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Update
2015-09-11 13:30 - 15:00 | Coleman A. Young Municipal Center Auditorium, 2 Woodward Avenue, 13th Floor, Detroit, MI, 48226, United States
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission is pleased to be presenting at the upcoming Criminal Advocacy Program in Detroit, Michigan. The MIDC is required by statute to collect and compile data for the review of indigent defense services in Michigan; create minimum standards to ensure all systems providing indigent defense meet constitutional obligations for effective assistance of counsel; and work with counties to implement plans to meet the standards and measure the performance of counties in providing public defense services. As data collection begins and the first set of minimum standards have been proposed, Executive Director Jonathan Sacks will explain the Commission’s goals and timetable and how the MIDC will impact indigent defense in Wayne County.

MIDC Meeting and Public Hearing
2015-08-18 13:00 - 17:00 | WMU Cooley Law School, Lansing, Auburn Hills & Grand Rapids, MI, United States
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission will hold its next meeting on August 18, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Western Michigan University – Cooley Law School, live in Lansing and simulcast in Auburn Hills and Grand Rapids at the following addresses:
300 S. Capitol Ave, Lansing (room 308)
111 Commerce Ave SW, Grand Rapids (room 305)
2630 Featherstone, Auburn Hills (room 100)
In addition to normal business, this meeting will also serve as a public hearing on the first set of standards for the local delivery of indigent defense services that have been proposed and posted for comment by the MIDC. These standards involve education and training, the initial client interview, experts and investigators, and counsel at first appearance in front of a judge.
For complete details on the proposed standards, please see the MIDC’s website. Comments on these proposed standards can be submitted to info@michiganidc.gov or mailed to 200 N. Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48933. MIDC staff will post the comments on their website and all comments received prior to Friday August 7, 2015 by 5 p.m. will be submitted for consideration by the Commission.
Please note: All are welcome and encouraged to attend the public hearing, but seating is limited and available only on a first-come-first-served basis.
Please contact (517) 648-3143 for additional information or inquiries.

MIDC in Marquette
2015-08-14 14:30 - 16:00
Earlier this summer, the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) announced the release of the first set of proposed minimum standards for the local delivery of indigent criminal defense services. These standards involve education and training, the initial client interview, experts and investigators, and counsel at first appearance in front of a judge. The MIDC strives for collaboration, transparency and accessibility in our work, and we are collecting feedback on these first standards.
Please join Marla McCowan, MIDC Director of Training, Outreach and Support and Gary Walker, Commissioner for an informational session regarding these first standards and the work of the MIDC Friday August 14, 2015 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Marquette County Courthouse South Circuit Courtroom.
Discussion topics in addition to the standards include potential compliance plans to employ in local courts, our preliminary review of data collection, future standards for the Commission to consider, and an opportunity to ask questions, share your concerns and offer insight as the MIDC works toward improving indigent defense in Michigan.
RSVP online or contact Marla McCowan via email at mmccowan@michiganidc.gov or at 517-388-6702.
View Flyer for this Event

CDAM Trial College
2015-08-10 08:00 - 2015-08-15 17:00 | Radisson Hotel and State Bar of Michigan, Lansing, MI, United States

Advanced Topics in Pleas and Sentencing
2015-07-31 13:00 - 15:00 | Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, Auburn Hills, Lansing and Grand Rapids, MI, United States
SADO’s Criminal Defense Resource Center (CDRC) & Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School (WMUTCLS) through a grant from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) will offer a FREE “Advanced Topics in Pleas & Sentencing Seminar,” on Friday, July 31, 2015, from 1-3pm. This seminar will provide training on current issues relating to the scoring of the statutory sentencing guidelines (including particularly difficult questions posed on the MJI sentencing guidelines scoring Q and A webpage as well as other cutting edge scoring questions) and issues that affect the validity of a guilty or no contest plea presented by Anne Yantus – Managing Attorney of the State Appellate Defender Office. Space is limited and reservations are required. For registration information and online registration use the following links: Auburn Hills – SIMULCAST: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/advanced-topics-in-pleas-sentencing-auburn-hills-simulcast-tickets-16804494696; Grand Rapids – LIVE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/advanced-topics-in-pleas-sentencing-grand-rapids-live-tickets-16804374336 and Lansing – SIMULCAST: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/advanced-topics-in-pleas-sentencing-lansing-simulcast-tickets-16804543843. For additional information contact Heather Waara at hwaara@sado.org

Sentencing Law Update
2015-07-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, Auburn Hills, Lansing and Grand Rapids, MI, United States
SADO’s Criminal Defense Resource Center (CDRC) & Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School (WMUTCLS) through a grant from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) will offer a FREE “Sentencing Law Update Seminar,” on Friday, July 17, 2015, from 1-3pm. This seminar will provide updates on recent case law and statutory changes to the Michigan legislative sentencing guidelines and other areas of Michigan sentencing law and is presented by Jacqueline McCann – Assistant Defender of the State Appellate Defender Office and Principal Author of the Defender Sentencing & Post-Conviction Book. Space is limited and reservations are required. For registration information and online registration use the following links: Auburn Hills – LIVE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sentencing-law-update-auburn-hills-live-tickets-16804143646, Grand Rapids – SIMULCAST: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sentencing-law-update-grand-rapids-simulcast-tickets-16804200817 and Lansing – SIMULCAST: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sentencing-law-update-lansing-simulcast-tickets-16804307135. For additional information contact Heather Waara at hwaara@sado.org

CDAM Training
2015-07-11 | Otsego Country Club, Gaylord, MI, United States

Sentencing 101
2015-06-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, 1441 St Antoine St, Detroit, MI, 48226, United States
