Traverse City Criminal Appeals Attorney
Traverse City is the jewel of northern Michigan — a thriving community on Grand Traverse Bay that draws visitors, residents, and businesses from across the country. But criminal cases happen in Traverse City just as they do in every community, and defendants who are convicted in the Grand Traverse County Circuit Court are entitled to the same quality of appellate representation as defendants in Detroit or Grand Rapids. Michigan criminal appeals attorney Michael B. Skinner of Skinner Law Office provides that representation — statewide, without exception.
Attorney Skinner has spent over 25 years as Michigan's dedicated appellate specialist, serving clients from every corner of the state. His exclusive focus on appellate litigation means that Traverse City defendants and their families receive the same depth of expertise — the same meticulous record review, the same precise brief writing, the same strategic appellate thinking — that has produced successful outcomes across Michigan's appellate courts. Call (248) 693-4100 to discuss your case.
Grand Traverse County Courts and the Michigan Appeals Process
Felony criminal cases in Traverse City are tried in the Grand Traverse County Circuit Court at 328 Washington Street. After sentencing, defendants have 42 days to file a claim of appeal as of right with the Michigan Court of Appeals. Grand Traverse County is within the Michigan Court of Appeals' Third District, and appeals from this region may be argued in Grand Rapids or Lansing.
The appellate process is identical for northern Michigan defendants as it is for those in the Lower Peninsula's major cities. The 42-day deadline is the same. The legal standards are the same. And the stakes — someone's freedom and future — are the same. Do not let geographic distance from major legal centers prevent you from pursuing the appeal your case deserves. Call Skinner Law Office today.
Why Traverse City Defendants Choose Skinner Law Office
Northern Michigan communities like Traverse City are not well-served by dedicated appellate specialists. Most attorneys in the region handle a broad mix of legal matters, and criminal appeals represent a small fraction of their work. Skinner Law Office fills that gap with 25 years of exclusive appellate experience and a statewide practice that brings the same quality of representation to Traverse City that is available to defendants in Michigan's largest urban centers.
Attorney Skinner is admitted to all Michigan state courts and relevant federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He has been recognized by the Detroit Free Press as an expert in Michigan appellate law. And he handles every case personally — Traverse City clients speak directly with Attorney Skinner throughout the entire appellate process.
Grounds for Appeal in Traverse City and Grand Traverse County Cases
Criminal cases in Traverse City and northern Michigan often involve fact patterns that are specific to the region — tourism-related offenses, watercraft incidents, OWI cases, property crimes in seasonal communities, and drug offenses along northern Michigan transportation corridors. Whatever the underlying offense, Attorney Skinner looks for the same categories of legal error:
- Ineffective assistance of trial counsel — including failures to investigate local witnesses, retain appropriate experts, or challenge evidence properly
- OWI-related issues — improper stop and detention, breathalyzer foundation errors, or blood draw consent violations
- Fourth Amendment violations — unlawful searches of vehicles, watercraft, or seasonal properties
- Evidentiary errors — improper admission of expert testimony, prior acts, or hearsay
- Sentencing guideline errors — incorrect scoring in the Grand Traverse County Circuit Court
- Insufficient evidence — particularly in cases relying on circumstantial evidence or the testimony of a single witness
- Newly discovered evidence — including recanting witnesses or forensic evidence not available at trial
Federal Court Access for Traverse City Defendants
Traverse City and Grand Traverse County are within the Western District of Michigan for federal court purposes. Attorney Skinner handles federal habeas corpus petitions and federal criminal appeals in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. When state appellate remedies have been exhausted and constitutional issues remain unresolved, federal court provides a final avenue that is fully accessible through Skinner Law Office.
Contact Skinner Law Office — Criminal Appeals Attorney Serving Traverse City
If you are looking for a criminal appeals attorney near Traverse City, Skinner Law Office serves Grand Traverse County and all of northern Michigan. Call (248) 693-4100 or email mskinner@mskinner.com to schedule your personal case evaluation with Attorney Michael B. Skinner. The 42-day appeal deadline begins the moment sentence is imposed — do not wait.
