Contact Skinner Law Office — Michigan Criminal Appeals Attorney
If you or someone you love has been convicted of a crime in Michigan and you believe that something went wrong during the investigation, arrest, or trial, you may have grounds for an appeal. Time is critical — Michigan's appeal deadlines are strict and unforgiving. The first step is a case evaluation with Attorney Michael B. Skinner, where he will review the basic facts of your situation and provide an honest, experienced assessment of your appellate options.
At Skinner Law Office, you speak directly with Attorney Skinner — not a case manager, not a paralegal, and not a junior associate. When you reach out, you are beginning a conversation with one of Michigan's most experienced criminal appeals attorneys, a practitioner with more than 25 years of appellate experience.
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Service Throughout All Of Michigan
Because appellate proceedings are conducted in appellate courts rather than local county courts, Skinner Law Office is able to serve clients from every part of Michigan — including the Upper Peninsula. The firm regularly handles appeals originating from convictions in Wayne County, Oakland County, Macomb County, Genesee County, Ingham County, Kent County, Washtenaw County, and dozens of other Michigan counties.
Distance is not an obstacle. Attorney Skinner communicates with clients by phone and in writing throughout the appellate process. While in-person meetings can be arranged at the Lake Orion office when circumstances permit, the nature of appellate work — which centers on written briefs rather than courtroom appearances — allows effective representation of clients regardless of where in Michigan they are located.
Do Not Wait — Appeal Deadlines Cannot Be Extended
This point cannot be overstated: Michigan's criminal appeal deadlines are jurisdictional, and courts have no power to extend them in most circumstances. A defendant who misses the 42-day deadline for filing a claim of appeal as of right may lose access to the most powerful form of direct appellate review. The longer you wait to contact an appellate attorney, the more limited your options become.
If you are reading this in the days or weeks following a sentencing, call Skinner Law Office today. If you are a family member reading this because your loved one was convicted months or years ago, call today — post-conviction options may still exist, but they too are governed by deadlines that require prompt action.
Frequently Asked Questions — Contacting Skinner Law Office
Immediately — ideally within days of sentencing, not weeks. Michigan's 42-day deadline for filing a claim of appeal as of right runs from the date of sentencing, and the work required to prepare an appeal begins long before the filing deadline. Attorney Skinner needs time to review the trial record, identify viable appellate issues, and prepare the initial filing. Waiting until the last week before the deadline puts that work under impossible time pressure and risks missing the window entirely.
Absolutely. Many of the firm's clients are reached through family members who are advocating for an incarcerated loved one. Attorney Skinner can speak with you, assess the situation based on what you know about the case, and advise you on what information and documents would be needed to conduct a proper evaluation. He can then communicate directly with the incarcerated individual as well, with appropriate authorization.
It is helpful — but not required — to have as much of the following information available as possible: the name of the court where the conviction occurred, the county, the approximate date of trial or plea and sentencing, the charges and the sentence imposed, the name of the trial attorney, and any documents related to the case such as the judgment of sentence, any post-trial motions that were filed, or any prior appellate filings. Attorney Skinner can work with whatever information is available and advise you on how to obtain additional records.
Yes. Skinner Law Office handles Michigan criminal appeals originating from convictions in Wayne County — which includes Detroit, the state's largest city — as well as every other county in Michigan. Wayne County cases often involve complex urban crime charges including murder, armed robbery, criminal sexual conduct, and drug offenses. Attorney Skinner has experience with the full spectrum of Michigan criminal offenses and the appellate issues they present.
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.
Attorney Skinner's practice is primarily focused on felony appeals, where the stakes — lengthy prison sentences, lifetime consequences — are highest and where the complexity of the legal issues most rewards specialized appellate expertise. However, he evaluates each inquiry individually. Contact the office to discuss the specifics of your situation and whether Attorney Skinner is the right fit for your case.
Skinner Law Office makes every effort to respond to inquiries promptly, typically within one business day. If you are facing an imminent appeal deadline, please indicate that clearly when you call or email so that your matter can be prioritized. Phone calls to (248) 693-4100 during business hours are the fastest way to reach the firm.