MIDC Brings Hope to Michigan’s Indigent Defense System

In a recent blog post by the ACLU of Michigan, Carl Bookstein interviewed MIDC Executive Director Jonathan Sacks about the progress of the Commission and the plans for submitting the first set of proposed standards to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Before the MIDC, Michigan’s indigent delivery system was marred by a total lack of statewide conformity, each county choosing how to provide representation with different standards and often producing horrible results…

The MIDC act provides “minimum standards” for local delivery of indigent criminal defense services throughout the state. The first four standards will hopefully be adopted by the Michigan Supreme Court by the middle of next year. These standards speak to required adequate training for lawyers, confidential client visits, access to investigators and experts for the defense, and the providing of counsel at critical stages, including the first appearance.

Read the blog entry on the ACLU’s website here.