Criminal Defense Resource Center
The State Appellate Defender Office is pleased to announce that Kathy Swedlow has been named the manager of SADO’s Criminal Defense Resource Center. The CDRC develops and administers statewide trainings for criminal defense attorneys, operates SADO’s web site (www.sado.org), and publishes a variety of books and manuals, including the popular Defender Books series. Swedlow succeeds Marilena David, who managed the CDRC from 2015 to 2022 and who currently serves as SADO’s deputy director.
Swedlow is an experienced administrator, teacher, author, and criminal defense attorney. From 2016-2021, She was the deputy administrator of the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System (MAACS), where she provided training and support to MAACS roster attorneys. From 2001-2016, Swedlow was a professor and assistant dean at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, where she taught Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Death Penalty Law. She was also the co-director of the school’s Innocence Project and was co-counsel on the Project’s first DNA exoneration case. Before moving to Michigan in 2000, Swedlow worked as an assistant federal defender with the Capital Habeas Unit of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, where she represented death row prisoners in Pennsylvania. She has also worked in the staff attorneys’ offices in the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Second, Third, and Sixth Circuits.
Swedlow is the author of the SADO “Defender Appellate Manual” (2020) and three law school textbooks, published in 2017, 2021, and 2022; she is also a former contributing editor for death penalty cases for the ABA publication, “Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases.” She has conducted trainings for SADO and MAACS on a wide variety of substantive and procedural legal topics.
Swedlow is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and City University of New York School of Law.
—————
Office of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointments of Jeremy Bowie to the Oakland County 50th District Court, City of Pontiac, and Shawn Jacque to the Wayne County 36th District Court, City of Detroit.
Bowie currently works as a criminal defense attorney with The Perkins Law Group PLLC. In this role, Bowie is the head of legal research and writing as well as the head of the federal criminal case docket. He previously worked as an attorney with Merry, Farnen, & Ryan PC where he practiced civil law and served as an assistant prosecutor in Wayne County. While attending law school, Bowie served as a judicial extern for Judge John H. Gillis Jr. and a judicial intern for Judge Rosemarie Aquilina.
Bowie earned his law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, and he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Michigan State University. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., initiated in the Gamma Lambda chapter. He is also a member of The National Black Lawyers and was named one of their Top 40 Under 40 for 2022. Bowie volunteers his time as a mentor for the FIRST Robotics Team (Wings of Fire – Team 51) at Pontiac High School/International Technology Academy.
“I’m so thankful to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for appointing me to the 50th Judicial District Court,” Bowie said. “I am excited and energized to serve my fellow citizens of the city of Pontiac. Every day will have purpose because I am giving back to the city that made me who I am today.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the retirement of Judge Michael C. Martinez effective December 31. Bowie’s term will commence on January 9, 2023 and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025. If Bowie wishes to serve the remainder of Martinez’s term, expiring January 1, 2027, he would be required to run for reelection in November of 2024.
Jacque currently serves as general counsel for the 36th District Court of Detroit. He has been with the court since 2020 and began as deputy general counsel. In his current role, He manages the legal affairs of the court and serves as the legal advisor to the chief judge and the various court departments.
Prior to his current role, Jacque was a private practice attorney specializing in contracts, criminal law, real property, landlord-tenant, and consumer protection. He also worked as the corporate counsel for the Detroit Diesel Corporation and litigation attorney for State Farm Insurance Company. Early in his career, he was an assistant United States attorney, assistant prosecutor in Wayne County, and assistant corporation counsel for the City of Detroit.
Jacque earned his law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Michigan. He is a member of the Wolverine Bar Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Jack & Jill of America Dad’s Auxiliary, and the NAACP.
“I want to thank Governor Whitmer for appointing me to the 36th District Court bench,” Jacque said. “As a lifelong Detroiter, serving the citizens of Detroit has always been paramount to me. Being given the opportunity to serve the citizens and the city as a judge, is truly a great honor.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Lydia Nance Adams effective October 14. Jacque’s term will commence on December 27, 2022 and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025. If Jacque wishes to serve the remainder of Adams’ term, expiring January 1, 2029, he would be required to run for reelection in November of 2024.
Judicial appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—————
Warner, Norcross, + Judd LLP
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP partner Homayune A. Ghaussi has been selected for Lawyers of Color’s “Law Firm Leaders 2022” list.
Lawyers of Color is a nonprofit devoted to promoting diversity in the legal profession and advancing democracy and equality in marginalized communities. “Law Firm Leaders 2022” is the first comprehensive listing of law firm decision-makers who are of African, Asian, Hispanic or Native American descent.
Ghaussi, a partner in Warner’s Detroit office, focuses on both supply chain litigation and commercial contract negotiation. He is also chair of Warner’s Supply Chain Litigation Practice Group and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He regularly represents clients in complex litigation and commercial disputes, including through jury trials and arbitration hearings.
Ghaussi has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America© in commercial litigation as well as Michigan Super Lawyers and DBusiness as a top lawyer in litigation and commercial and intellectual property law.
Warner is also pleased to announce that it has been selected as one of the top 10 health law firms in the Midwest by the American Bar Association.
This is the sixth time Warner has made the list, which recognizes 10 health law firms across five regions and is compiled by the ABA’s Health Law Section. Those included on the list reflect the largest number of members in the ABA’s Health Law Section.
With nine offices across Michigan, Warner provides broad and comprehensive experience in health law. The firm serves as general counsel to hospitals across the state and provides legal services to hospitals, physicians and physicians groups, pharmacies, academic health centers, nursing homes, health plans and other providers of health care services.
The 26 attorneys who are members of the Health Care Industry Group at Warner provide counsel in all areas of corporate planning, regulatory and reimbursement compliance, licensing, certification, accreditation, medical staff administration, physician recruiting, joint ventures, criminal and civil white-collar defense, peer-review actions, reimbursement matters, antitrust and other issues.
—————
BSP?Law
BSP Law is pleased to announce two new members: Derek J. Linkous and Justin B. Weiner.
Linkous focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on critical motions and appeals. He has experience with a broad range of business litigation, including class actions, contract disputes, environmental issues, and product liability. Trial tested, he frequently represents original equipment manufacturers in state and federal courts throughout the country, assisting with presenting the most persuasive legal arguments and preserving the record.
Linkous received his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 2011, and clerked on both the Fifth and Sixth Circuits.
Weiner focuses his practice on complex business litigation, including work as national discovery counsel in product liability and class action cases. He also has a background in litigation regarding intellectual property. Weiner has experience earning favorable results for his clients in state and federal courts in motion practice, on appeals, and in trials.
Weiner graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 2007.
—————
Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho PLC
Cummings, McClorey, Davis, & Acho PLC is pleased to announce that attorney Jim Acho has been named a 2023 Top Lawyer in Labor and Employment Law by DBusiness magazine.
Acho is a partner in the Livonia office where he focuses his practice on labor and employment law, sports law, law enforcement defense, and commercial litigation.
—————
City of Detroit Office of Eviction Defense
The City of Detroit has taken another major step towards the establishment of the Office of Eviction Defense in compliance with the Right to Counsel ordinance passed by Detroit City Council. Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett recently announced that April Faith-Slaker will lead the Office of Eviction Defense as its executive director and Dylon Adrine will serve as program manager. Together, they will lead the team working to provide legal defense for Detroiters facing eviction.
Faith-Slaker has spent her entire career fighting for justice in the legal system, with a data-driven approach. She most recently served as the associate director of the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School working on rigorous research studies addressing access to equal access to justice in civil and criminal. A member of the Advisory Board for The Justice Index at the National Center for Access to Justice, Faith-Slaker earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago and her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She also holds a Master of Arts in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University.
Adrine will be working with the city’s vendor – the United Community Housing Coalition – and its subcontractors to ensure Detroiters facing eviction have the best legal defense. Prior to accepting this role at the Office of Eviction Defense, Adrine served as a process improvement consultant on Mayor Duggan’s Lean Six Sigma team, working to improve efficiency across several city departments. Adrine earned his Bachelor of Science in Health Service Administration and Master of Business Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy.
The city recently selected the United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC) as the vendor working to manage this process. The details of the contract with UCHC are being finalized now and will be in front of City Council for approval upon their return from holiday recess. Once their contract is approved, UCHC will subcontract with several other organizations to ensure as much legal capacity as possible.
“We are building a very strong team dedicated to making sure Detroiters facing eviction have legal representation and Detroiters are fortunate to have April and Dylon leading this effort,” said Mallett. “They fully appreciate the urgency of this issue and once the contract with UCHC is approved in early January, their work will begin in earnest.”
Once fully operational, the Office of Eviction Defense will provide legal counsel and representation to anyone earning up to twice the federal poverty level. The new office will be funded for the next three years with $6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds committed by the Duggan administration. Separately, the Gilbert Family Foundation has pledged $12 million over the next three years to provide eviction legal defense for 6,000 low-income Detroit families with children.
Since the start of the pandemic, the city and its partners have directed more than $300 million toward eviction prevention and defense, providing rental assistance to nearly 30,000 households and legal representation to more than 15,000 Detroit renters. Today, renters facing eviction have access to legal counsel or representation by showing up for their court hearing with a copy of their Notice to Quit.
The 36th District Court sees an average of 30,000 eviction cases annually and a University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions study found that tenants are nearly 90% more successful in winning their cases when they have an attorney provided to them.
Creation of the new office of Eviction Defense is a requirement under the Right to Counsel ordinance spearheaded by Council President Mary Sheffield, which was approved in May.
—————
City of Detroit Financial Review Commission
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of John J. Walsh to the Detroit Financial Review Commission.
Walsh is currently the president and CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Michigan State University and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School. Walsh is reappointed for a term commencing December 15, 2022 and expiring November 9, 2026.
The Detroit Financial Review Commission (FRC) is responsible for oversight of the City of Detroit and the Detroit Public Schools Community District. It ensures both are meeting statutory requirements, reviews and approves their budgets, and establishes programs and requirements for prudent fiscal management, among other roles and responsibilities.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
—————
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Aaron Burrell presented “Employment Law School for Legal Aid Leaders” at the Committee on Regional Training (CORT) and MIE’s Supervising Legal Work Training event. He provided a primer on pre-hiring best practices, offer letters, remote working, performance reviews, and post-employment. CORT is a four-state training consortium that provides substantive law and skills trainings for legal services providers in Indiana, West Virginia, Michigan, and Ohio.
Burrell is a business lawyer who focuses his practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation, appellate law, labor and employment law, and minority business enterprises.
As a member of Dickinson Wright’s litigation practice, Burrell has prevailed in numerous complex, commercial-litigation cases in a number of state and federal trial courts and courts of appeals. As a member of the firm’s labor and employment practice, he has defended clients in a wide range of discrimination and unfair-labor-practice claims in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, and he has counseled clients on all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring; discipline; diversity, equity, and inclusion matters; and the creation and enforcement of employment agreements.
At Dickinson Wright, Burrell serves as co-chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and co-chair of Litigation Training. He also serves as a lateral recruiter for the firm.
Burrell has served as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the State Bar of Michigan; chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Representative Assembly; co-chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Equal Access Initiative; president of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association; vice president of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Foundation; and affiliate representative of the National Bar Association. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and the Oakland County Bar Association. He is a fellow of the Oakland County Bar Foundation, Michigan State Bar Foundation, and the American Bar Foundation. Burrell is an active member of the Wolverine Bar Association, the Detroit Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
