Learn how the Rules and Laws Committee actively advocates for our mission across all branches of government, and access the CDAM Bill Report to track current legislative activity impacting Michigan's criminal defense system.

The Rules and Laws Committee is the Board of Directors’ liaison to the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government on policy issues relevant to the organization, its mission, and the criminal justice system generally. The committee advocates for the adoption or rejection of proposed actions by those branches, be it as legislation, court rules, Attorney General positions, Governor’s’ office positions, or subgroups within those branches (e.g. SCAO, MIDC), and does so in writing, at legislative committee hearings, in Michigan Supreme Court administrative hearings, in meetings with governmental representatives, and the like.

On legislation and with the executive branch, the committee works hand in glove with CDAM’s lobbyist, and with similarly aligned NGO stakeholders. In the Michigan Supreme Court, the committee often partners with SADO in responding to requests for comment on proposed court action. The committee reports regularly to the Board and to the membership.