By Marla Mitchell-Cichon
Professor Emeritus Norman Fell, who died June 21 at age 81, dedicated his professional career – and his life – to public service. He was a family man, outdoorsman, traveler, and avid music fan.
Norman (Norm) Fell was born on September 8, 1942 in Detroit to Al and Rose Fell. He attended high school at Cass Tech in Detroit, earning his bachelor of science degree from Wayne State University in 1965 and his law degree there in 1968.
Fell began his legal career as a member of the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office where he became the chief deputy defender of the Long Beach Municipal Court. Upon returning to Michigan, he worked for the Ann Arbor Legal Aid Society, then established the Law Co-Op, providing criminal defense to middle to low-income residents.
Professor Fell began his teaching career at Cooley Law School in 1988. He served as one of the first supervising attorneys in the Sixty-Plus Elder Law Clinic, and later rose to become its executive director. He was the founding director of the Washtenaw Public Defender Clinic, one of the first hybrid clinical programs in the country. “Development of a Criminal Law Clinic: A Blended Approach, 44 Clev. St. L. Rev. 275 (1996); https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1581&context=clevstlrev
In 2000, Fell testified before the Michigan legislature in support of a post-conviction DNA testing law. When asked by state representatives how such a program would be funded, Fell offered up
the law school as an option. His offer made the news before the school had the chance to consider the proposal. Michigan’s post-conviction DNA testing law was passed on January 6, 2001 and Fell started the first innocence project in the state shortly thereafter. Since its inception, the Cooley Innocence Project has exonerated nine men and provided its support and expertise in four additional cases.
Over the years, Fell served on numerous nonprofit boards and received a number of awards, including the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM) Justice for All, Patriots and Liberty Bell awards. He was named as one of Michigan’s leaders in the law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
But Professor Fell was more than a public servant. He was a dedicated father and family man. He and his partner, Alice, raised two daughters, Shayna and Amanda. He was very proud of his daughters, often sharing stories about their lives and accomplishments. As a family, they traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Israel.
Fell also was an avid outdoorsman, and worked in the U.S. Forest Service prior to beginning his legal career. He also drove a food truck, a job that he loved. For many years, Fell sailed every summer and was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. He volunteered for many years at The Ark, a nationally known music venue in Ann Arbor.
In short, he lived a good, full life.
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Marla Mitchell-Cichon is a Cooley Law School distinguished professor emeritus, and counsel to the Cooley Innocence Project.
Professor Emeritus Norman Fell, who died June 21 at age 81, dedicated his professional career – and his life – to public service. He was a family man, outdoorsman, traveler, and avid music fan.
Norman (Norm) Fell was born on September 8, 1942 in Detroit to Al and Rose Fell. He attended high school at Cass Tech in Detroit, earning his bachelor of science degree from Wayne State University in 1965 and his law degree there in 1968.
Fell began his legal career as a member of the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office where he became the chief deputy defender of the Long Beach Municipal Court. Upon returning to Michigan, he worked for the Ann Arbor Legal Aid Society, then established the Law Co-Op, providing criminal defense to middle to low-income residents.
Professor Fell began his teaching career at Cooley Law School in 1988. He served as one of the first supervising attorneys in the Sixty-Plus Elder Law Clinic, and later rose to become its executive director. He was the founding director of the Washtenaw Public Defender Clinic, one of the first hybrid clinical programs in the country. “Development of a Criminal Law Clinic: A Blended Approach, 44 Clev. St. L. Rev. 275 (1996); https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1581&context=clevstlrev
In 2000, Fell testified before the Michigan legislature in support of a post-conviction DNA testing law. When asked by state representatives how such a program would be funded, Fell offered up
the law school as an option. His offer made the news before the school had the chance to consider the proposal. Michigan’s post-conviction DNA testing law was passed on January 6, 2001 and Fell started the first innocence project in the state shortly thereafter. Since its inception, the Cooley Innocence Project has exonerated nine men and provided its support and expertise in four additional cases.
Over the years, Fell served on numerous nonprofit boards and received a number of awards, including the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM) Justice for All, Patriots and Liberty Bell awards. He was named as one of Michigan’s leaders in the law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
But Professor Fell was more than a public servant. He was a dedicated father and family man. He and his partner, Alice, raised two daughters, Shayna and Amanda. He was very proud of his daughters, often sharing stories about their lives and accomplishments. As a family, they traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Israel.
Fell also was an avid outdoorsman, and worked in the U.S. Forest Service prior to beginning his legal career. He also drove a food truck, a job that he loved. For many years, Fell sailed every summer and was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. He volunteered for many years at The Ark, a nationally known music venue in Ann Arbor.
In short, he lived a good, full life.
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Marla Mitchell-Cichon is a Cooley Law School distinguished professor emeritus, and counsel to the Cooley Innocence Project.
Professor Fell (right) with Cooley Law Emeritus Professor Marla Mitchell-Cichon, who serves as counsel to the Cooley Innocence Project.
