Your Best Reference for Navigating a Criminal Case

Get the book that judges use. Achieve the best results for your clients with practical advice from leading criminal defense lawyers on the most commonly charged offenses. The ICLE Commentary details the elements of the offense, possible penalties and collateral consequences, and specific guidance for defending against these crimes. This book is provided to every Michigan trial judge in partnership with the SCAO.

Refer to what the trial judges use as you:

• Confidently identify sentencing guidelines and lesser included offenses
• Negotiate the most favorable plea bargain
• Present the best case at trial
• Prepare the sentencing memorandum and evaluate the sentencing report
• Get a jump start on research for an appeal

Highlights of the latest update include:

• New Michigan Supreme Court cases regarding a lesser-included offense of voluntary manslaughter instruction, voir dire limitations, and in-court identifications
• Analysis of Michigan Court of Appeals opinions pertaining to blood alcohol content evidence, reckless driving causing death, lifetime SORA registration, pandering, and more
• New instructions covering parental kidnapping, prohibited use of emergency 9-1-1 service, animal cruelty, and public intoxication
• Amended instructions regarding evidence of other acts of domestic violence or sexual assault, judging the credibility and weight of evidence, witness credibility, self-defense, bribing witnesses, retaliating, and more
• Updated statutes pertaining to criminal sexual conduct and to the definition of mental incapacitation
• Numerous updates to the Michigan Rules of Evidence