Daily Briefs

 CDAM to present  Justice for All Award

The Criminal Defense Attorney of Michigan’s Awards Committee has selected a  group of individuals as the recipients of their Justice for All Award. The award  recognizes the contributions of a group or individual in the form of legal representation or other extraordinary service.

State Appellate Defender Office attorneys Marilena David (Detroit), Michael Mittlestat (Detroit), Peter Van Hoek (Detroit), and Thomas M. Cooley Law School Professor Alan M. Gershel (Lansing), Hon. Kim McGinnis (Taos, NM), attorney Daniel Signs (Philadelphia, PA) and SADO Chief Investigator, Linda Borus (Detroit) will be honored for their efforts investigating convictions where the discredited and closed Detroit Crime Lab Unit might have played a part.
 
In five years, the attorneys in the unit with the help of Cooley Law School student volunteers reviewed 1,043 convictions. This review resulted in new trials for five clients, including one exoneration, and the release of two of these clients from prison.

“This award honors the extraordinary efforts made by the recipients to ensure the integrity of the Michigan Judicial System,” said CDAM Board Member and Award Committee Chair Stuart Friedman. “When faced with the misconduct within the Crime Lab, these courageous individuals stepped up and took the necessary actions to review potentially flawed convictions and then acted to obtain justice when violations were identified. This took many, many hours of work by people committed to insuring due process and fair trials for defendants and to insure constitutional protections for all. With this award, CDAM recognizes and thanks the recipients for their efforts and success.”
 

Panel discussion part of next ADTC meeting

The Association of Defense Trial Counsel will conduct a membership meeting on Tuesday, March 11, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Andiamo Detroit Riverfront, 400 Renaissance Center.
 
The meeting will present a panel discussion featuring retired Judge Michael F. Sapala, Peter M.  Ruggirello of Ruggirello, Velardo, Novara, & Ver Beek PC; and Stuart S. Weiner of Weiner & Randall Law Group PLLC.

Cost, which includes dinner, is $45 for members and $50 for non-members payable at the door.
Reservations must be made by noon on Thursday, March 6.  To register, call Diane Hirshey 313-237-0610.
 

Wayne Law to hold Alumni Speaker Series 

 
Wayne State University Law School presents “Alumni Speaker Series: Sports and Entertainment Law” on Thursday, Feb. 27, from 12:15 - 1:15 p.m. in Room 2242 of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights. Speakers who will share their experiences and advice are: Howard Hertz, class of 1976, lead attorney of Hertz Schram P.C.’s Entertainment Practice Group; Jason Hillman, class of 2001, vice president and general counsel of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball organization; and Gregory Reed, classes of 1974 (J.D.) and 1978 (LL.M.), of Gregory J. Reed & Associates. Admission is free and lunch will be provided. Parking is available for $6.50 in Structure One across West Palmer Street from the Law School. For more information or to register, contact Brianna Fritz at (313) 577-2733 or brianna.fritz@wayne.edu.

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