MI House Pushes for New Lawyer Selection Standards - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader

The Michigan House has voted to beef up the standards by which lawyers are selected for clients who can't afford an attorney.

The question of what kind of justice goes to the heart of the debate, as the proponents of this legislation contend in some counties, you could get a lousy attorney and end up in jail as a result.

For the first time in a long time, the ACLU and conservative Republican Representative Tom McMillian are on the same page calling for equal justice regardless of where you live.

"This makes it more uniform. It's one of the few things government should do, as a conservative, is try and insure as equal justice as possible and I'm confident this bill does that," said McMillian

The ACLU contends this plan will save dollars in the long run by keeping inmates out of jail and from going through another costly trail.

"It is costing us more to have to retry citizens who got an ineffective council and in the meantime, you've got the perpetrators who are still on the streets who were never tried and convicted," said Shelly Weisberg with the Michigan ACLU.

In the state Senate, the future of the legislation may be in doubt. GOP Senator Rick Jones is a former law enforcement officer for 31 years and is worried about the cost.

"I'm willing to listen to both sides, but I'm deeply concerned this will cost counties more money. We have to examine it very closely," said Jones.

A final action will be determined after the November election.