Case: Wayne County Criminal Defense Assn. v. Wayne Circuit Court

122709 | Michigan state appellate court

Filed Date: Nov. 12, 2002

Closed Date: 2003

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On November 12, 2002, the Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association and the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan filed a lawsuit against the Chief Judges of Wayne County Circuit Court, in the Supreme Court of Michigan. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, sought declaratory and injunctive relief from alleged systemic violations of the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and Article 1, Section 20 of the Michigan Constitution. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the d…

On November 12, 2002, the Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association and the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan filed a lawsuit against the Chief Judges of Wayne County Circuit Court, in the Supreme Court of Michigan. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, sought declaratory and injunctive relief from alleged systemic violations of the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and Article 1, Section 20 of the Michigan Constitution. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants, judges tasked with establishing compensation for defenders of indigent felons, had implemented an unreasonable fee schedule that overworked court-appointed defense attorneys to the point of violating their statutory rights as well as the Constitutional rights of the indigent defendants.

Both parties filed several briefs on this matter, and on June 27, 2003, the Supreme Court of Michigan issued its opinion. The Court denied the plaintiffs' complaint, holding that they had not shown that the fee schedule provided unreasonable compensation to court-appointed counsel. In his concurrence, Chief Justice Corrigan noted that attorneys could apply for additional fees in exceptional cases, and that Michigan's public defender fee schedule was comparable to the national average. Wayne Co. Criminal Defense Bar Ass'n v. Chief Judges of Wayne Circuit Court 663 N.W.2d 471, 472 (Mich. 2003).

We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Nick Niles (7/11/2007)

People


Judge(s)

Cavanagh, Michael F. (Michigan)

Corrigan, Maura D. (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Eaman, Frank D (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

Elder, Azzam E (Michigan)

Ellsworth, Peter H. (Michigan)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

02-122709

Docket

Wayne Co Criminal Defense Assn v Wayne Circuit Court

June 27, 2003

June 27, 2003

Docket

02-68204

02-86099

02-70647

Affidavit of Robert L. Spangenberg in Support f Plaintiff’s Complaint for Superintending Control

Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association v. Chief Judges of Wayne Circuit Court and County of Wayne

Michigan state supreme court

Nov. 8, 2002

Nov. 8, 2002

Pleading / Motion / Brief

02-68204

02-86099

02-70647

Affadvit of Matthew Evans

Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association v. Chief Judges of Wayne Circuit Court and County of Wayne

Michigan state supreme court

Nov. 8, 2002

Nov. 8, 2002

Pleading / Motion / Brief

02-68204

02-86099

02-70647

Complaint For Writ of Superintending Control

In re: Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association

Supreme Court of the United States

Nov. 8, 2002

Nov. 8, 2002

Complaint

02-68204

02-86099

02-70647

Memorandum in Support of Request for Writ of Superintending Control

In re: Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association

Michigan state supreme court

Nov. 8, 2002

Nov. 8, 2002

Pleading / Motion / Brief

02-122709

Michigan Supreme Court Opinion (table)

Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association v. Chief Judges of Wayne Circuit Court and County of Wayne

Michigan state supreme court

March 31, 2003

March 31, 2003

Order/Opinion

659 N.W.2d 659

02-122709

Plaintiffs' Reply Memorandum in Support of their Request for Writ of Superintending Control

Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association v. Chief Judges of Wayne Circuit Court and County of Wayne

Michigan state supreme court

May 6, 2003

May 6, 2003

Pleading / Motion / Brief

02-122709

Brief of Amicus Curiae National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association et al v. Chief Judges of Wayne Circuit Court and County of Wayne

Michigan state supreme court

May 8, 2003

May 8, 2003

Pleading / Motion / Brief

02-122709

Order [Re: Motion for Relief]

Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association v. Chief Judges of Wayne Circuit Court and County of Wayne

Michigan state supreme court

June 27, 2003

June 27, 2003

Order/Opinion

663 N.W.2d 663

Resources

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:38 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Michigan

Case Type(s):

Indigent Defense

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 12, 2002

Closing Date: 2003

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Assn (non-profit, voluntary association of lawyers who accept criminal assignments in Wayne County); Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (nonprofit whose members are appointed in criminal cases in Wayne County Cir Ct).

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Wayne Circuit Court Judges (Wayne), County

Wayne County (Wayne), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

General:

Funding

Quality of representation

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload