ByMatthew BenedictI have been practicing law since 2001, most of my trial experience is in the 86th district court. As a Traverse City criminal lawyer, I grew up in the 86th District Court and believe I know this court system well. I have represented over 800 clients in the 86th District Court. The Big Three Crimes…
ByMatthew BenedictIn this blog, I explore four tips to get your driver’s license back. Understanding these topics will increase the likelihood of restoring driving privileges after two or more drunk driving convictions in Michigan. Witness Sobriety Letters and the Driver’s License Restoration Case Some people just want their driver’s license back, and they will lie…
ByMatthew BenedictOnce Michigan gun rights are restored, why can’t I purchase a gun? There are two bodies of government, State and Federal laws. Both bodies of government pass laws that prohibit a convicted felon from possessing a gun. Michigan’s laws are far more forgiving than the Federal government’s laws. Michigan has automatic restoration of gun rights,…
ByMatthew BenedictIn this blog, I wanted to discuss several fact patterns related to restoring gun rights in Michigan. This blog illustrates how federal law and Michigan law interact together. In Michigan, fewer felony convictions result in loss of gun rights. On the Federal level, more felonies result in the loss of gun rights. Michigan has a…
ByMatthew BenedictRemoving a criminal conviction in Michigan has received a lot of press lately. Not that long ago there was expungement week, a national campaign that provided free legal clinics across the country, and with marijuana legalization in Michigan, legislators are eager to remove moot marijuana convictions from the past. The media quotes a University of…
ByMatthew BenedictIn this article, I will discuss a motion to change of domicile or legal residence in Michigan. MCL 722.31 is the statute. This is the motion that must be filed when people subject to a custody order want to relocate to another city. This article covers co-parents with joint legal custody. If a parent has…
ByMatthew BenedictI have represented many people facing a drunk driving charge. Within the general pool of first offense, drink drivers are the people that refuse a chemical test after being arrested. In Michigan, once arrested, the police read a standardized form explaining the client’s chemical rights. This usually occurs once the client is placed under arrest…
ByMatthew BenedictThe letter requirement associated with Michigan SOS 257/258 “Request for a hearing” is the most screwed up element I see on a regular basis. The driver’s license restoration letter is more difficult than it appears. I have not represented a client yet that was able to provide good letters on the first try. Yes, I…
ByMatthew BenedictBasics of an Implied Consent Violation Michigan’s Implied Consent Law comes into play when a driver is pulled over for drunk driving, arrested, and the driver refuses the DataMaster Breathalyzer test or a consensual blood draw. Refusing the breath or chemical test will result in an implied consent violation and a one-year driver’s license…
ByMatthew BenedictIn law school, every lawyer learns that each law is passed for a purpose. The intent of the legislature, their goals, can be deduced from the statute. The intent of the Legislature was to prevent the dangers associated with driving a motor vehicle while drunk. We all know what these dangers are—reckless driving that kills…
