Michigan Criminal Appeals Attorney | Skinner Law Office
Hire a top Michigan criminal appeals attorney and turn legal setbacks into powerful comebacks. Skinner Law Office has 25 Years of Appellate Expertise Guiding Michigan Clients in Criminal Appeals and Habeas Corpus Cases.
Michigan’s Trusted Experts in Appeals and Habeas Corpus
Skinner Law Office specializes in appellate law, providing expert representation for Michigan criminal and civil appeals, federal habeas corpus cases, and pardon applications, helping clients pursue justice when other options are exhausted.
An "expert in Michigan appellate law." - Detroit Free Press
25 Years Winning Appeals
Sharp Focus on Relief for Our Clients
When Your Conviction Is Wrong, Your Fight Is Not Over
A criminal conviction is not always the end of the road. If you or someone you love has been wrongly convicted, received an unjust sentence, or had constitutional rights violated during trial, the appellate process may be your most powerful path to justice. At Skinner Law Office, Michigan criminal appeals attorney Michael B. Skinner has spent more than 25 years doing one thing exceptionally well — fighting to correct the mistakes courts and trial attorneys make.
Unlike general practice law firms that treat appeals as a side service, Skinner Law Office is built exclusively around appellate litigation. That singular focus means every strategy, every brief, and every argument Attorney Skinner develops comes from a depth of appellate knowledge that general practice attorneys simply cannot replicate. When the stakes are this high, experience and specialization matter.
Legal Expertise Backing Every Step
Our collaboration with legal specialists ensures comprehensive, innovative solutions tailored to your needs. From criminal appeals and habeas corpus to federal cases, we deliver exceptional advocacy and strategic expertise. Discover how our services can support your case.
Insights on Michigan's Legal Trends
We stand out from other law firms with our specialized focus on Michigan criminal appeals and civil appeals. Explore our twitter and blog for insights into Michigan law updates and our unique approach.
A Proven Track Record Of Success Across Michigan's Courts
Attorney Michael Skinner has built a case history that reflects both the breadth and depth of his appellate experience. He has successfully argued appeals involving murder, criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery, home invasion, larceny, unarmed robbery, solicitation to commit murder, and assault charges — in both state and federal courts. Notable outcomes include:
Murder
In this self-defense case, I argued for, and the Court of Appeals granted, a new trial based on the ineffective assistance of my client’s trial attorney. The trial attorney failed to have physical evidence tested for gunshot residue that would have proved my client was innocent.
Solicitation to Commit Murder
In this case, the Court of Appeals vacated my client’s 40 to 60-year sentence for solicitation to commit murder because he was tried in the wrong county.
People v. Houthoofd, 487 Mich. 568 (2010)
Criminal Sexual Conduct
My client was convicted of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct. I successfully argued for a new trial before the trial judge because the trial attorney failed to present favorable evidence to the jury, and the Court of Appeals upheld the trial judge’s decision.
People v. Shaul, Mich. C. App. 326905 (vacate jury trial CSC charge and remand for resentencing on other convictions)
Larceny over $20,000
The prosecution tried to convict my client of an armed robbery at the store where she worked when she was actually one of the victims of the crime. The Court of Appeals vacated her conviction, and she subsequently won a $1.7 million judgment in a civil lawsuit against the Detroit Police Department.
People v Urquhart, Mich. Court Appeals Docket No. 246001 N o. 246001
Unarmed Robbery
My client was originally sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison. I obtained a new sentencing hearing where I was able to present evidence of my client’s significant mental problems, and the judge reduced his sentence to 4 to 20 years in prison. He was released from prison soon after.
People v. Harper, Michigan Court of Appeals Docket No. 265067
Murder
My client was charged with murdering a man or aiding and abetting his friends in the murder of a man in a park during a night of drinking. I argued in a pre-trial motion that there was insufficient evidence to convict the client, and the trial court agreed, dismissing the case against him.
Home Invasion
My client pled guilty to home invasion, but the Court of Appeals reversed, agreeing with my argument that there was not enough evidence in the record that my client entered the home with the intent to steal any property.
Criminal Sexual Conduct
My client was convicted of criminal sexual conduct, but he was charged outside the statute of limitations (meaning the crime happened too long ago for the prosecution to charge him). The trial court agreed and dismissed the case against him, leading to his release from prison.
Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm
My client had been convicted of two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Years later, he was trying to get a job that required a thorough background check. Because he had two convictions, he was unable, under normal legal procedures, to get the convictions expunged from his record (normally, a person can expunge only one conviction). I was able to convince the prosecutor and judge to allow him to remove both convictions so that he could proceed with his career plans.
Armed Robbery
My client pled guilty to armed robbery in exchange for the dismissal of a murder charge. He was initially sentenced to 9 to 20 years in prison. I filed a motion to reduce that sentence, and the trial court agreed, sentencing him to a minimum of 5 years and 10 months instead.
Murder
My client was convicted of first-degree murder, and I argued that the trial court prevented him from exploring an insanity defense by being examined by a neuropsychologist. The Court of Appeals agreed and sent the case back to the trial court to allow my client to be examined by a neuropsychologist and present an insanity defense.
Armed Robbery
The Court of Appeals reversed my client’s armed robbery conviction because the trial court failed to give a proper jury instruction.
Home Invasion
My client was originally sentenced to prison, but I successfully argued that he should have been sentenced to a county jail sentence only, changing a 43-month to 30-year prison sentence to a 12-month jail sentence.
These results are not accidents.
They are the product of meticulous record review, thorough legal research, and the kind of strategic advocacy that only comes from years of focused appellate practice.
Federal Habeas Corpus: When State Options Are Exhausted
When a Michigan defendant has exhausted state appeals, federal habeas corpus proceedings may offer one final avenue for relief. A habeas corpus petition filed in federal district court allows a prisoner to challenge the constitutionality of their confinement — arguing that the state court's decision violated federal law or the U.S. Constitution. This is a highly technical area of law with strict procedural requirements, including the exhaustion doctrine and the one-year statute of limitations under AEDPA. Attorney Skinner has experience navigating these complex federal proceedings and has successfully pursued habeas relief for Michigan clients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Michigan Criminal Appeals
A criminal appeal is a request to a higher court to review legal errors that occurred during your original trial. The appellate court does not hear new testimony or see new evidence — it reviews the existing trial record and written legal briefs. A new trial, by contrast, is a completely fresh proceeding with witnesses, evidence, and a jury or judge deciding guilt or innocence again. Appeals can result in a new trial being ordered if the appellate court finds that legal errors were serious enough to have affected the verdict.
In Michigan, a defendant has 42 days from the date of sentencing to file a claim of appeal as of right to the Michigan Court of Appeals. If that deadline is missed, you may still be able to file an application for leave to appeal, but the court has discretion to deny it. Beyond the direct appeal, post-conviction motions and delayed appeals may be available depending on the circumstances of your case. Time is always a critical factor — do not wait.
Yes. Ineffective assistance of counsel is one of the most common and powerful grounds for a criminal appeal in Michigan. To succeed on this claim, you must show two things: first, that your trial attorney's performance fell below the standard of a reasonably competent attorney; and second, that this deficiency actually prejudiced your case — meaning there is a reasonable probability that the outcome would have been different with competent representation. Attorney Skinner has successfully argued ineffective assistance claims in multiple appellate courts.
If you win a criminal appeal in Michigan, the outcome depends on the nature of the error the court found. Possible results include: a new trial, a new sentencing hearing, a reduction in sentence, dismissal of charges, or release from custody. Not every successful appeal results in freedom — but every successful appeal means the error will be corrected, and you will have another opportunity to fight for a just outcome.
Yes. Skinner Law Office serves clients throughout all 83 counties of Michigan. Appellate work is conducted primarily through written briefs and oral arguments in appellate courts, not in local county courts, so Attorney Skinner can represent clients from any part of the state. Whether your case originated in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Marquette, or any other Michigan community, Skinner Law Office can evaluate your appeal.
The cost of a criminal appeal varies depending on the complexity of the case, the length of the trial record, the number of issues to be briefed, and whether oral argument is requested. Attorney Skinner provides a case evaluation to discuss the scope of work and associated costs. Some cases may qualify for appointed counsel on direct appeal if the defendant cannot afford representation — this is an area Attorney Skinner can advise on during an initial consultation.
Attorney Michael Skinner is admitted to practice before the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. This breadth of court access allows him to pursue relief at every level of the state and federal judicial system.
Newly discovered evidence can be the basis for post-conviction relief in Michigan, even if the direct appeal deadline has passed. Michigan court rules allow for motions for relief from judgment based on newly discovered evidence that could not have been discovered with due diligence before or during trial. This is a rigorous legal standard, but Attorney Skinner has experience identifying and presenting these arguments effectively.