Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

Have you ever taken your computer to Best Buy to have work done by The Geek Squad? If so, let’s hope that you had nothing incriminating on your computer because the Cyber Working Group for the FBI may have access to your information.

The prosecution of Mark Rettenmaier, a doctor from California came to light because he took his laptop to a local Best Buy. Best Buy then sent Dr. Rettenmaier’s computer to the Kentucky Geek Squad repair facility. It was then learned that the Geek Squad employee called the FBI’s Louisville field office to share the allegedly illegal material. We are left to wonder if one’s Fourth Amendment Rights are violated in this process. To gain insight into how this issue affects the Michigan criminal justice system, we spoke to several of the top criminal lawyers in our state.

Scott Grabel is the founder of Grabel and Associates and has built a law firm that is known as the top criminal defense team in the state of Michigan. When asked for commentary, Grabel stated, “The issue we have to review is whether a defendant loses their expectation of privacy when they hand their computer over to a third party. There has been documentation that payments have been made to confidential Geek Squad informants. If this is the case, there is a concern for constitutional violations.”

One issue that is at the center of controversy in our criminal justice system is bond reform. A New York Daily News article written by Graham Rayman about a drug trafficking ring being released without bail captured the attention of Google. The article focused on a New York state law makes nonviolent drug trafficking is not on the offenses that a judge can impose bail. While New York has taken the lead on bail reform, Michigan is considering a change on the issue of bond. To discuss this issue, we obtained commentary from leaders in the criminal defense sector.

Scott Grabel is a founder of Grabel and Associates and has created a team of criminal defense lawyers that are known as the top in the state of Michigan. When asked about bail reform, Grabel stated, “One thing that has to be understood is that there is a presumption of innocence when somebody is charged with a crime. That is often forgotten about in our criminal justice system. When a defendant is given a high bond, it cripples their defense and can invade their constitutional rights.”

William Amadeo is a partner at McManus and Amadeo in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a Senior Associate for Grabel and Associates. Amadeo is known as one of the top criminal defense lawyers in the state of Michigan and proved commentary on the issue. Amadeo said, “Far too often we see heightened bonds without a Magistrate knowing all of the facts. Luckily, we have two tremendous Magistrates in Washtenaw County in Elisha Fink and Tamara Garwood that look to protect the community while protecting the constitutional rights of the defendant. In many other counties, the imposition of the bond becomes an issue of danger to the defendant. If a defendant does not have the option to get bonded out, their chances of winning at trial are greatly reduced. I understand the pressures of the prosecutor to make certain that the defendant comes to court, but we have to meet somewhere in the middle for all involved.”

In a move that may present changes to the California Legislature, Senator Nancy Skinner (D-California) has announced a bill that would raise the age of adult prosecutions to 20 years of age within their state. Senate Bill 899 has garnered a tremendous amount of attention on social media. It could have a profound effect on Michigan legislation.

Senator Skinner has publicly stated, “When teenagers make serious mistakes and commit crimes, state prison is not the answer. Processing teenagers through the juvenile justice system will help ensure they receive the appropriate education, counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation services necessary to achieve real public safety outcomes.” When asked about this legislation and its impact on the state of Michigan, we spoke to leaders in the criminal law community to gain their insight.

Scott Grabel is the founder of Grabel and Associates and has created a law firm that is known as the top criminal defense team in the state of Michigan. When asked about Senate Bill 899, Grabel stated, “The “Raise the Age” plan by Senator Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township) has also made strides to protect young people. The reality is that juveniles should be treated differently than their adult counterparts in the criminal justice system. The California Bill could have a profound effect on protecting our youth across the country.”

One of the few civic requirements we have as U.S. citizens is that of jury duty. There aren’t many terms that get the collective “ugh” like jury duty does. It is one of our highest responsibilities, yet it is generally viewed in a pretty negative way. The first thing that most people do when receiving a summons for jury duty is to reach out to their lawyer friend to ask them how to get out of it! In this quick guide, we will discuss who gets chosen for jury duty, what to expect if you are chosen, and what can happen if you don’t show up.

Who Gets Chosen For Jury Duty?

Any U.S. citizen aged 18 or older is eligible to be chosen for jury duty as long he or she doesn’t have any felony convictions. The jury pool is comprised of people who live in your district that have a valid ID or driver’s license. You must be able to communicate and understand the English language in order to serve as a juror. You also must be physically and mentally able to carry out the functions of a juror to serve as one. If you have physical limitations that prevent you from sitting in one place for too long or have any mental limitations that prevent you from being able to pay close attention for longer periods of time then those could be legitimate reasons to be excused from serving as a juror. If you are older than 70, then you may request an age exemption from jury service. Finally, you may not serve on more than one jury in a twelve-month period.