“Indigent Defense Must Change”

On Tuesday August 18, the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission held a public hearing on the first set of proposed minimum standards for indigent defense delivery systems at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in Lansing.  The hearing allowed for participation at the campuses in Grand Rapids and Auburn Hills.  Speakers at all locations shared support and concerns for the standards, which will be considered and incorporated into revisions before the standards are finalized.  The Lansing State Journal reported on the hearing, and included information about the timeline for implementation:

The commission will vote in October to recommend these standards to the Michigan Supreme Court, which is expected to give final approval in May or June. The commission would then work with counties to develop plans to comply.

Read the full article in the Lansing State Journal here.