Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack last Thursday announced plans for five traveling expungement clinics. The clinics will assist individuals seeking an expungement of their record. Expungement can help individuals find housing, continue their education, and serve their local communities.
“We are a nation of laws, and our expungement laws support giving people second chances,” said McCormack. “With a clean record, people can better provide for their families and achieve their dreams.”
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law received a grant from the Michigan State Bar Foundation to fund the clinics. The clinic will take eight law students to rural counties (Gratiot, Wexford, Missaukee, Kalkaska, Crawford, and Otsego) to provide a one-stop shop clinic for each of those five jurisdictions. Local judges, law enforcement, volunteer attorneys, and students will use Michigan Legal Help resources to screen eligible applicants, and assist them in completing applications for expungements.
In addition to assisting with applications, the clinic also helps to secure hearing dates and filing applications with the court. In a recent study conducted at the University of Michigan Law School, it found that people who received expungements saw their wages increase by an average of 25 percent within two years.
“Courts and judges must be accessible and must engage with their local communities,” said Clinton County Judge Michelle Rick. “The process of applying for an expungement can be a daunting task, so hosting these clinics to help applicants navigate the process is rewarding for everyone involved, while increasing access and community engagement. As a result, courts earn public trust and confidence in our legal system.”
For additional information about the clinics, contact Nicholas Schroeck, Director, Clinical Programs & Associate Professor 313-596-9817 or Rebecca Simkins Nowak, Clinical Program Coordinator at 313-596-9409.
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