What is a Federal Criminal “Complaint”?

I have been charged in Federal Court with a “Complaint”? What does that mean, and what will happen? Whether you are a first time offender or a career criminal, these questions can cripple any federal defendant. Not knowing the answers to these questions can make it difficult for you to sleep or leave you unable

Should a defendant’s past conduct be admissible at trial?

The case against actor and comedian Bill Cosby recently brought one of the most controversial issues in criminal law into the forefront of the public’s mind. That is, whether a jury should hear about someone’s past conduct at trial? The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday in Cosby’s case, focusing on this very

Mark Satawa Represents Ty Garbin in Federal Court

News of six men accused of planning to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Esther Whitmer has been circling news outlets for the past few days. They were allegedly plotting to kidnap Whitmer outside of her northern Michigan vacation home. One of the accused is Ty Garbin and attorney Mark Satawa of Satawa Law PLLC has been

Domestic Violence cases are all different

Domestic violence cases are different, and in many important ways. A first time, simple domestic violence case is a misdemeanor punishable in Michigan by up to 93 days in jail and a fine, which is the same penalty of a misdemeanor retail fraud. But they are not retail frauds, and they are not reckless driving.

Covid-19 and Federal Compassionate Release

With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading throughout the country, and certainly within our jails in prisons, one of the questions at the top of many minds is whether or not a federal inmate in the BOP can get relief on his sentence under the compassionate release statute and the First Step Act because of the coronavirus.

“An accused student’s rights must be guaranteed.” The latest on Title IX Hearings in Michigan

“An accused student’s rights must be guaranteed — not left open for interpretation. . . . Imposing a suspension, prior to a hearing and adjudication is unconstitutional.” John Doe v University of Michigan, et al, Case No. 18-11776, March 23, 2020. That does not appear to be a sweeping or controversial statement – at least it

PRESS RELEASE

Mark A. Satawa Has Been Nominated and Accepted as a 2019 AIOCLA’s10 Best in Michigan For Client Satisfaction The American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys has recognized the exceptional performance of Michigan’s Criminal Law Attorney Mark A. Satawa as 2019 10 Best Criminal Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction. The American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys

WHEN TITLE IX AND TITLE IX REFORM GOES AWRY

Link:    http://freep.mi.newsmemory.com/?publink=01db1d8aa Everyone should be clear about what Title IX disciplinary hearings are about. The typical Title IX case is one student accusing a fellow student of a “date rape” type sexual assault, following a date, or a night of drinking at the bar. They are NOT about Larry Nassar. Let’s make this clear – Nassar was

Do people confess to crimes they don’t commit?

Do people confess to crimes they don’t commit? The age old question in criminal law. It seems so difficult to believe. Why would anyone admit to doing something they didn’t do? Particularly something as awful as sexual assault, child abuse, shaken baby, murder, or molesting a child. We all want to think – if I

Michigan Supreme Court deals shaken baby syndrome yet another blow

There is good news out of the Michigan Supreme Court, as it ruled last month that it was error to deny a defendant expert assistance for her post-conviction motion arguing ineffective assistance of and for a Ginther hearing. People v Ulp, SCt Case No. 15980 (9/25/19), http://publicdocs.courts.mi.gov/SCT/PUBLIC/ORDERS/159080_116_01.pdf.  This was a medically complex SBS/AHT case, with a 14 month old