Staff Archive - Michigan Indigent Defense Commission

Jessica Paladino

October 31, 2024

Phone: 313-319-4431
PaladinoJ@michigan.gov
Regional Manager
Wayne County

Jessica attended Law School at Cooley Law School and attended University of Detroit-Mercy where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.

Jessica was licensed to practice law in 2010 and served as a roster attorney serving the South Central Michigan and Wayne County regions. Prior to joining the MIDC, Jessica was the Managing Attorney in Monroe County for two years. She currently serves as Vice President for the Monroe County Bar Association and serves on the Representative Assembly for the State Bar of Michigan. She enjoys coaching youth hockey with the Trenton Hockey Association where she is also the President of the Association.

Abraham Gonzales

July 18, 2024

Phone: 616-610-8615
Gonzalesa10@michigan.gov
Regional Manager
Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Ottawa, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties.

Abraham Gonzales joined the MIDC staff in July 2024 as the Regional Manager for Western Michigan. Prior to joining the MIDC, he was a senor trial attorney at the Ottawa County Office of the Public Defender where he represented people accused of committing serious felonies. Abraham has been committed to providing indigent defense services in West Michigan since 2011.

Jacklyn Downer

May 22, 2024

Jacklyn Downer joined the MIDC staff in April 2024 as the Executive Assistant where she provides administrative assistance and support to Executive Director Kristen Staley. Prior to joining the MIDC, Jacklyn worked in various secretarial roles within the Michigan Department of Corrections for over 27 years. At the MIDC, Jacklyn is also responsible for providing technical assistance and guidance to office staff and to members of the Commission.

Tracey M. Martin

April 2, 2024

Phone: 586-638-6546
MartinT28@michigan.gov
Regional Manager
Lapeer, Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair

Tracey Martin is based in Wayne County. Prior to joining the MIDC, she worked at the Third Judicial Court of Michigan as a Family Court Referee in the Juvenile Section assigned to a dual docket presiding over child welfare and juvenile and truancy matters. Tracey was a member of the Referees Association of Michigan where she also served as a contributor and assistant editor for the Referees Quarterly publication. She authored the Wayne County juvenile and neglect and abuse case law updates. She regards indigent defense as a calling and before her appointment as a referee, she served 15 years defending adults in the criminal division, parents in child welfare proceedings and also youth concerning juvenile delinquency matters in multiple jurisdictions across Michigan. She is concerned with using innovative technology to improve indigent defense and working to promote improvements in indigent juvenile defense. Upon joining MIDC, Tracey has now served in all three branches of government. After she received her B.A. from Wayne State University in communications, she subsequently worked in the media, and government affairs. In addition, she did a stint in Lansing as a legislative assistant. While in law school as a 3L, Tracey worked at the Legal Aid and Defender Association in the Private Attorney Involvement Unit where she coordinated pro bono opportunities and organized law clinics for the community. Tracey earned her J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Matthew Lozen

January 24, 2024

Phone: 989-770-0564
LozenM@michigan.gov

Regional Manager – Mid-Michigan
Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Huron, Iosco, Isabella, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola

Matt is based in Michigan’s thumb, where he has represented indigent clients for over 15 years. Matt graduated from Albion College with a BA in History and concentrations in Public Policy & Service, and Law, Justice & Society. While attending Albion, Matt interned for TV Edwards Solicitors, an indigent defense firm in London, England where he was tasked with gathering evidence, interviewing clients, and assisting barristers at trial.

Prior to joining the MIDC, Matt graduated from Wayne State University Law School and worked as an appointed attorney in St. Clair County before becoming the Managed Assigned Counsel – Director (MAC-D) for Sanilac County in 2018. As part of the first class of MAC-Ds in Michigan, Matt helped to develop best practices for offices across Michigan as they worked to implement the new MIDC Standards.

Lauren Calef

December 4, 2023

Regional Manager – Northern Michigan
Alger, Antrim, Baraga, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Emmet, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Iron, Kalkaska, Keweenaw, Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Marquette, Menominee, Missaukee, Ontonagon, Otsego, Presque Isle, Schoolcraft, Wexford.

Lauren Calef joined the MIDC staff in November 2023. Prior to working for the Commission, Lauren was an Assistant Public Defender in Marquette County.

Brett Baker

August 8, 2023

Brett Baker is a Grant Analyst with the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. Prior to joining the MIDC, Brett worked in Public Accounting at BDO in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a 2022 graduate of Hope College, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Public Accounting. When he is not working for the MIDC, Brett enjoys coin collecting and traveling to MLB ballparks around the country with his family.

Neil Weinberg

September 8, 2022

Neil Weinberg joined the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission in September 2022 as a Research Analyst. Prior to his employment with the MIDC, Neil was a Senior Research Analyst with the Michigan Legislative Service Bureau where he provided nonpartisan research and analysis to members and staff of the Michigan Legislature. At LSB, he specialized in criminal justice; government institutions and transparency; legislative and administrative process; and energy and utilities, in addition to serving as the editor of the Michigan Manual. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Bradley Sheaffer

July 8, 2022

Brad Sheaffer joined the MIDC in June 2022 as a Grant Analyst. Prior to his employment with the MIDC, Brad worked for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services as a Departmental Technician with Prior Review Division as well as the Benefits Monitoring Program reviewing requests and aiding Medicaid recipients. Brad has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Western Michigan University and an MBA from Davenport University.

Nicole Walter

March 25, 2022

Phone: 517-435-6590
WalterN2@michigan.gov
Regional Manager – South Central Michigan
Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Shiawassee, Washtenaw

Nicole Walter is based in Jackson County. Prior to joining the MIDC, she worked at the Office of the Jackson County Public Defender. She first served as the MIDC Compliance Analyst and was later promoted to a public defender position. She is particularly concerned with issues of substance abuse as it relates to criminal justice and seeks alternatives to incarceration that include mental health treatment and rehabilitation. She graduated from Kalamazoo College and Wayne State University Law School and worked for many years in banking/finance before shifting her purpose to indigent defense.