Michigan Appellate Defender Commission

The Michigan Appellate Defender Commission shall be responsible for the development of a system of indigent appellate defense services which shall include services provided by the office of the state appellate defender, provided for under section 3, and locally appointed private counsel. The commission shall be responsible for the development of minimum standards to which all indigent criminal defense appellate services shall conform. Within 180 days after appointment of the commission and whenever the commission deems it advisable after that period, the commission shall submit proposed standards to the Supreme Court. Upon approval of the proposed standards by the Supreme Court, the commission shall adopt the standards. The commission shall compile and keep current a statewide roster of attorneys eligible for and willing to accept appointment by an appropriate court to serve as criminal appellate defense counsel for indigents. The appointment of criminal appellate defense services for indigents shall be made by the trial court from the roster provided by the commission or shall be referred to the office of the state appellate defender. The commission shall provide a continuing legal education training program for its staff and the private attorneys who appear on the roster for purposes of appointment for indigent criminal defense appellate service.