- Direct appeals from District Court to circuit court
- Direct criminal appeals to the Michigan Court of Appeals or the Michigan Supreme Court
- Direct criminal appeals to the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of the United States
- Michigan 6.500 motions (motions for relief from judgment)
- Federal habeas corpus proceedings (§2254 and §2255 petitions)
- Petitions to expunge criminal convictions
- Motions to reduce jail and prison sentences
- Assistance with Michigan Department of Corrections matters
Direct State Appeals We offer direct representation of clients from all Michigan Circuit Courts to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. We also full post-conviction services including motions for relief from judgment under MCR 6.500, appeals from these rulings, and habeas corpus litigation litigation. We are exceptionally experienced in post-conviction litigation. Stuart Friedman is the author of the leading law review on Michigan Post-Conviction Remedies (Friedman, Hurdling the 6.500 Barrier: A Guide to Michigan Post-Conviction Remedies, Thomas Cooley Law Review, 1997) and is a frequent speaker and lecturer on Michigan Post-Conviction Remedies.
Federal Appeals. We also provide federal appeals to the United States Court of Appeals to the Sixth Circuit involving both direct and collateral appeals (2255). We will also happily represent individuals beyond this to the United States Supreme Court should such representation be necessary. Our office is fully e-filing compatible with high speed scanners and the full complement of PDF related software. In fact, this office was the first criminal appellate firm in the United States to file a CD-ROM brief in 1999 in the casino corruption case of United States v. Dakota, et al.
Prison Matters. We also provide legal representation in matters involving the Michigan Department of Corrections at both the agency level and in litigation to state and federal court. Stuart Friedman was originally a staff attorney with Prison Legal Services, is past editor of the Prison & Corrections Sections Newsletter, is past Chair of the Prison & Corrections Section of the State Bar of Michigan and has appeared before the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court representing the prisoner or Friend of the Court in many of the major parole cases decided over the last fifteen years.