Michigan Indigent Defense Reform
Fighting for Low Income Defendants in Michigan
The Brennan Center works as part of the Michigan Coalition for Justice to reform Michigan’s public defense system and to guarantee that the public defense system is fair. We work to establish state funding for the system; supervision, training and oversight for the lawyers; and adequate access to resources like experts and investigators so the lawyers can do their jobs properly.
On February 22, 2007, the Michigan Coalition for Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of Michigan and Governor Jennifer Granholm charging that the state has not fulfilled its constitutional obligation to provide appropriate defense services to individuals who are unable to afford a private attorney.
The members of the Michigan Coalition for Justice include:
- American Civil Liberties Union
- American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP