Jonathan Sacks is presented with Eaman Award for Excellence in Public Defense

At the MIDC’s December 16, 2025 business meeting, Attorney Jonathan Sacks was presented with the MIDC’s 2025 Frank D. Eaman Award for Excellence in Public Defense.

Established in 2023, the MIDC’s Frank D. Eaman Award is presented annually for extraordinary service in public defense and improving representation to people who are poor and charged with crimes in Michigan.

MIDC Chair Tracey Brame described Jonathan’s accomplishments during the presentation:

“Jonathan’s work in public defense began during his first year of law school, where he volunteered at the Harlem Neighborhood Defender Service, and quickly recognized this as the type of law he wanted to practice. 

Upon graduation from law school he went to the Defender Association of Philadelphia, where he worked as a staff attorney in the Major Trials Unit and represented hundreds of clients charged with major felonies in all stages of criminal justice process.  In that same office he went on to become a supervisor in the felony waiver unit. 

In 2004 Jonathan moved to Michigan to become an Assistant Defender at Michigan’s State Appellate Defender Office for three years, and then became SADO’s Deputy Director for eight years, during which he always carried his own caseload. 

Having worked in these model offices set the stage for his tenure as the first Executive Director of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission.  Jonathan’s work at the MIDC helped establish:

• The first ever comprehensive survey of trial level indigent defense systems;
• The first standards for indigent defense, covering attorney training and education, the initial client interview, experts and investigators, and counsel at first appearance and other critical stages;
• Publications and resources to assist system stakeholders to use in preparing the first compliance plans and best practices for their delivery models;
• A robust staff, serving as liaisons between local system stakeholders and the Commission;
• And he secured early funding for trial level public defense, the first time this State ever made such a contribution.

Jonathan returned to SADO in 2018 to serve as their Director. Under his leadership, SADO initiated projects involving the early release of people serving jail sentences during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, review of the failed Detroit Crime Lab, pre-screening of appellate clients for claims of actual innocence, and the provision of social worker sentencing assistance. With Jonathan’s advocacy, SADO doubled in size to include a permanent Juvenile Lifer Unit; litigation, mitigation, and finance support for the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System; the establishment of youth appellate defense; and permanent state-funded Project Reentry and Wrongful Conviction Units.  

Though Jonathan stepped down from SADO earlier this year, he continues to focus on criminal defense at Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter.  We know many systems are thrilled to have him on their rosters serving clients who are in need of his advocacy and skills.”