Daily Briefs

WMU-Cooley provides training session on state’s Clean Slate Act


With the Clean Slate Act going into effect on April 11, WMU-Cooley Law School Associate Dean Tracey Brame and  the law school’s Access to Justice Staff Attorney Kamau Sandiford hosted a training session for attorneys during the Grand Rapids Bar Association and Legal Aid’s Spring Training Session on Thursday, March 25.

Brame and Sandiford described the previous expungement statute, and changes that are the result of the Clean Slate Act.  Individuals are eligible for expungement after the appropriate waiting period of 10 years for certain felonies, or seven years for certain misdemeanors has passed.  Most traffic offenses are available for expungement except: DUIs, offenses causing injury or death, and offenses while operating a commercial vehicle. Those who qualify for automatic expungement can have no more than two felonies and four 93-day misdemeanors expunged during their lifetime.

The Clean Slate Act also allows individuals convicted of low-level misdemeanor marijuana offenses to apply for expungement. Brame said the law creates a presumption that these offenses were based on activities that would not have been considered crimes on or after Dec. 6, 2018.

During the presentation, Sandiford explained that under HB 4980, the state will be required to have an automated expungement program in place by April 2023. Crimes that will not be considered for automatic expungement include: assaultive crimes; serious misdemeanors; crimes of dishonesty; offenses punishable by 10 or more years imprisonment; violations related to human trafficking; and crimes committed against minors, vulnerable adults, injury or serious impairment, or death.

 

Clean Slate Act expungement  training offered online for attorneys


Six laws expanding Michigan residents’ access to expungement took  effect Sunday April 11. Legal Services, with pro bono assistance from Bodman, Kitch, and Miller Canfield, will provide training for attorneys willing to help provide pro bono services for these life changing cases.  A “Clean Slate Expungement Training” will take place online Friday April 16, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

The training will feature:

• Welcome & Introductions: Vanessa Guerra, former state representative, current county clerk for Saginaw County

• Overview of Changes in the Law: Anne Yantus, Pro Bono counsel, Bodman PLC

• Court Process for Expungement: Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Michelle Rick.

Attorneys interested in attending the training can register at https://bit.ly/ 2PEkfae.



––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/subscriptions
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available

––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available