LEGAL EXPERIENCE
SOLE PRACTITIONER, Appellate Specialist, 1993-present
Filed Appellate Briefs in Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals and Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and Motions and Briefs in Circuit Courts in Michigan in civil and criminal cases. (See List of Representative Clients and Cases on Website Describing Private Practice)
THE HONORABLE CHARLES OBERLY, III, Attorney General, DE, 1991. Prepared appellate briefs submitted to Delaware Supreme Court; drafted education law pamphlet; researched trial motions. (Mentored by Richard Fairbanks, Chief of Appeals Division for Attorney General, who had spent almost two decades as Appellate Defender in Delaware in his prior job.)
MILLER, CANFIELD, PADDOCK & STONE, Summer Associate, 1987.
Researched motions in federal discrimination cases and wrongful discharge law; wrote employment guides for clients. (Mentored by Walter Connolly in Labor Division and others)
U. S. SENATOR CARL M. LEVIN. Legislative Intern, 1988.
Prepared Senator Levin for floor debates on bills on campaign finance reform, tort reform and immigration issues. (Worked with Chuck Cutolo, Legislative Director, and Gordon Kerr, Chief of Staff and with two legislative assistants)
PROFESSOR ROBERT F. DRINAN, S.J., Research Assistant, 1986-87. Researched legal ethics and international law issues. Publication: Report on Right to Food, American Bar Association. (Assisted in writing speech on anniversary of the U.S. Constitution in 1987 given as speech at University of Texas, assisted in writing chapter on history of United Nations.)
D.C. PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE. Criminal investigator, 1984.
Prepared for felony trials; took signed statements from witnesses. (Worked with PDS Chief, Charles Ogletree, and James McComas, Chief of Trial Division, and with David Debruin,
and Paul Leder. (Investigated major felonies, including double homicide, two other murders, rape, arson, car theft, and other major felonies being prepared for trial in the District. Testified about statements obtained from witnesses in the District of Columbia Superior Court in trials.)
MICHIGAN 67th DISTRICT COURT. Probation officer, 1982-83. Caseload of 250; appeared at sentencing and violation hearings. (Mentored by Robert Guice, Chief of Probation. Appeared in Court to Assist in Probation Violation Hearings, Met Clients monthly, visited probation clients at homes or work when they were not reporting. Worked with Genesee County Sheriff to report to federal court judge regarding conditions of jail to insure compliance with federal court orders.)
U.S. SENATOR DONALD W. RIEGLE. Staff intern to Senate Banking Committee, 1980. Constituent caseworker in Flint, MI office, 1981. Worked with staff of Commerce Committee on the cable and television regulation provisions of the Communications Act Amendments. Wrote letters & memos on cable television provisions for Senator to use in meeting with cities.
Note: Judicial Clerkships are covered under the “Judicial Clerkships” tab.
SOLE PRACTITIONER, Appellate Specialist, 1993-present
Filed Appellate Briefs in Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals and Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and Motions and Briefs in Circuit Courts in Michigan in civil and criminal cases. (See List of Representative Clients and Cases on Website Describing Private Practice)
THE HONORABLE CHARLES OBERLY, III, Attorney General, DE, 1991. Prepared appellate briefs submitted to Delaware Supreme Court; drafted education law pamphlet; researched trial motions. (Mentored by Richard Fairbanks, Chief of Appeals Division for Attorney General, who had spent almost two decades as Appellate Defender in Delaware in his prior job.)
MILLER, CANFIELD, PADDOCK & STONE, Summer Associate, 1987.
Researched motions in federal discrimination cases and wrongful discharge law; wrote employment guides for clients. (Mentored by Walter Connolly in Labor Division and others)
U. S. SENATOR CARL M. LEVIN. Legislative Intern, 1988.
Prepared Senator Levin for floor debates on bills on campaign finance reform, tort reform and immigration issues. (Worked with Chuck Cutolo, Legislative Director, and Gordon Kerr, Chief of Staff and with two legislative assistants)
PROFESSOR ROBERT F. DRINAN, S.J., Research Assistant, 1986-87. Researched legal ethics and international law issues. Publication: Report on Right to Food, American Bar Association. (Assisted in writing speech on anniversary of the U.S. Constitution in 1987 given as speech at University of Texas, assisted in writing chapter on history of United Nations.)
D.C. PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE. Criminal investigator, 1984.
Prepared for felony trials; took signed statements from witnesses. (Worked with PDS Chief, Charles Ogletree, and James McComas, Chief of Trial Division, and with David Debruin,
and Paul Leder. (Investigated major felonies, including double homicide, two other murders, rape, arson, car theft, and other major felonies being prepared for trial in the District. Testified about statements obtained from witnesses in the District of Columbia Superior Court in trials.)
MICHIGAN 67th DISTRICT COURT. Probation officer, 1982-83. Caseload of 250; appeared at sentencing and violation hearings. (Mentored by Robert Guice, Chief of Probation. Appeared in Court to Assist in Probation Violation Hearings, Met Clients monthly, visited probation clients at homes or work when they were not reporting. Worked with Genesee County Sheriff to report to federal court judge regarding conditions of jail to insure compliance with federal court orders.)
U.S. SENATOR DONALD W. RIEGLE. Staff intern to Senate Banking Committee, 1980. Constituent caseworker in Flint, MI office, 1981. Worked with staff of Commerce Committee on the cable and television regulation provisions of the Communications Act Amendments. Wrote letters & memos on cable television provisions for Senator to use in meeting with cities.
Note: Judicial Clerkships are covered under the “Judicial Clerkships” tab.