Pleading the Sixth: Forcing trial court judges to design and directly oversee the system that provides attorneys to represent indigent defendants always opens the door to the dangers of undue judicial interference with the right to counsel. This is the case…
Pleading the Sixth: A public defender office handling felony representation in Detroit was flat funded for 16 years. This despite a critical national report, an ACLU lawsuit, and comprehensive statutory reform, all intended to ensure effective representation of the indigent accused…
Pleading the Sixth: On October 24, 2016, the Sixth Amendment Center released its report detailing how the “Indiana Model” for defender services leads to the actual denial of counsel and/or the provision of a lawyer in name only throughout the state.…
Pleading the Sixth: On June 13, 2013 the Michigan Legislature passed separate yet identical right to counsel reform bills in each chamber of the legislature. On June 19th, the Michigan Senate held a concurrence vote on the House version of…
Pleading the Sixth: Is 2013 the year that Michigan finally passes substantial right to counsel reform? In a two-part series, the 6AC discusses a new indigent defense reform bill introduced in the state legislature on April 10, 2013. Part One…
Pleading the Sixth: On April 10, 2013, two identical public defense reform bills were introduced in both chambers of the Michigan legislature. The bill gives the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM) an appointment to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission…
