Legal People

Western Michigan  University Cooley Law School
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School has named Ayda Rezaian-Nojani as staff attorney of the Cooley Innocence Project. The Cooley project works to secure the release of factually innocent Michigan prisoners through the use of post-conviction DNA testing. The staff attorney position is made possible through recent federal grant funding awarded to Western Michigan University and the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project. The WMU-Cooley Innocence Project is part of the Innocence Network, credited with the release of 336 wrongfully convicted individuals. Since its inception in 2001, the Cooley project has exonerated three men and screened more than 5,000 cases.

Rezaian-Nojani will oversee case intake and screening as well as assist in preparing clinical students for litigation. She earned her law degree from WMU-Cooley Law School in 2013 and her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Windsor in Ontario in 2008. She has been a licensed Michigan attorney since 2013. Rezaian-Nojani is working toward her Master of Laws degree, with an expected graduation in 2016.

“The WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project is the only DNA-based innocence organization in Michigan and as staff attorney I will devote my energy toward identifying and securing the release of those who are wrongfully convicted,” said Rezaian-Nojani.

Prior to joining the WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project, Rezaian-Nojani worked with the school’s Access to Justice Clinic, the Grand Rapids Urban League’s Tenant Law Project, and the Eaton County Court’s Eviction Diversion Program. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and the Grand Rapids Bar Association.

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Oakland County  District Court
On December 11, former Oakland County Commissioner Mike Bosnic was sworn into office as a magistrate for the 52-1 District Court in Novi by Judge Robert Bondy. His nomination for the court position was approved by members of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on December 9.

Bosnic will begin serving on the bench in January 2016 and will serve the communities of Novi, Commerce Township, Highland Township, Lyon Township, Milford, Milford Township, South Lyon, Walled Lake, Wixom, and Wolverine Lake in the 52-1 District Court jurisdiction.

As a magistrate, he will be responsible for conducting arraignments, setting bond, performing marriages, and overseeing informal and small claims hearings.

Bosnic is a practicing attorney and graduate of Michigan State University with a law degree from the University of Notre Dame. He served from 2011 to 2014 as an Oakland County commissioner and was first elected in November 2010 to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

He has worked on behalf of veterans and has received the 17th District Veterans Court special medallion. He has been a gatekeeper serving as a local prosecutor for the Veterans Court program.

“It’s always an honor to be able to serve the community. Thanks to the Board of Commissioners and the Judges of the 52-1 District Court for this opportunity,” stated Bosnic.

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Oakland County  Probate Court
Oakland County Probate Court Judge Linda S. Hallmark was recently nominated for the 2015 Daniel J. Wright Lifetime Achievement Award.  Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Young and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon signed the certificate of Honorable Mention in recognition of Hallmark’s distinguished service to Michigan children and families.

Hallmark will serve as chief judge of the Oakland County Probate Court for 2016 and also serves in the Circuit Court Family Division.