Ann Arbor Criminal Defense Blog

Everyone knows that the legal limit for driving a car is a blood alcohol content of 0.08. What many do not know is that until now the legal limit for operating a boat was actually a little higher, at 0.10. This has finally changed, though, as the legal limit for boats was lowered to 0.08…

This article lists the Schedule 1 substances, with a discussion of the charge operating with the presence of a schedule 1 substance or cocaine at the end. MCL 333.7212. What is a Schedule 1 Substance? A schedule 1 substance is a substance that has a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical uses…

A bill that would have allowed for Michigan communities to decide whether they wanted medical marijuana dispensaries was defeated today in the Michigan Senate. The dispensaries allowed under the bill would have been subject to certain restrictions, such as ensuring the quality of the marijuana. Individual communities could have added further regulations at their discretion.…

The Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Eastern Michigan University Police Departments have both announced that their officers will begin using body cameras. The announcement comes soon after the Washtenaw County Sheriff Department stated that its deputies will begin using body cameras. Body cameras have become a hot topic of conversation following a grand jury decision to…

At what point in time does a person reach a certain age? This seemingly easy question had big implications in the case People v. Woolfolk decided by the Michigan Supreme Court today. Deandre Woolfolk was convicted and sentenced to mandatory life without the possibility of parole for first degree murder. The murder was committed just…

The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department announced last week that its deputies will begin wearing body cameras during patrols. This is in addition to the dashboard cameras already placed in patrol vehicles. Ann Arbor city officials have discussed the use of body cameras for the Ann Arbor Police Department following the controversial shooting of a woman…

In a case from Munising in the Upper Peninsula, Paul Heminger was convicted of growing about two dozen marijuana plants. On appeal from his conviction, Heminger argued that the prosecuting attorney on the case made improper statements that influenced the jury. In the closing arguments of the trial, the prosecutor went on a rant against…

The residents of Huntington Woods and Berkley have voted for pro-marijuana measures in their communities. Under city law in both places, residents over 21 may now use, possess, or transfer up to one ounce of marijuana on private property. The Huntington Woods measure passed with about 69% of the vote. The Berkley measure passed with…

The Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that employees fired for using medical marijuana cannot be denied unemployment compensation benefits. This Court of Appeal’s case is actually a combination of three lower court cases, including Kemp v. Hayes Green Beach Hospital, which appeared in an earlier Blog article on this website. In each of the three…

The Flint city council has voted to allow medical marijuana dispensaries. For the past several years, the city has had a moratorium on the opening of new dispensaries, which the law refers to as provisioning centers. Dispensaries in Flint will be subject to zoning laws and high licensing fees. The Flint City Clerk has said…