Have a question?
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 780.768a

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Defendant: means a person charged with, convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of insanity of committing a crime against a victim. See Michigan Laws 780.752
  • Prosecuting attorney: means the prosecuting attorney for a county, an assistant prosecuting attorney for a county, the attorney general, the deputy attorney general, an assistant attorney general, or a special prosecuting attorney. See Michigan Laws 780.752
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Victim: means any of the following:
  (i) An individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime, except as provided in subparagraph (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v). See Michigan Laws 780.752
  (1) Upon the request of the victim, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the victim of the following:
  (a) That the defendant filed an appeal of his or her conviction or sentence or that the prosecuting attorney filed an appeal.
  (b) Whether the defendant has been ordered released on bail or other recognizance pending the disposition of the appeal. If the prosecuting attorney is notified that the defendant has been ordered released on bail or other recognizance pending disposition of the appeal, the prosecuting attorney shall use any means reasonably calculated to give the victim notice of that order within 24 hours after the prosecuting attorney is notified of the order.
  (c) The time and place of any appellate court oral arguments and any changes in the time or place of those arguments.
  (d) The result of the appeal. If the conviction is ordered reversed, the sentence is vacated, the case is remanded for a new trial, or the prosecuting attorney’s appeal is denied, and if the prosecuting attorney has filed the appropriate notice with the appellate court, the appellate court shall expedite delivery of the relevant document to the prosecuting attorney’s office by any means reasonably calculated to give the prosecuting attorney prompt notice. The prosecuting attorney shall use any means reasonably calculated to give the victim notice of that order within 24 hours after the prosecuting attorney is notified of the order.
  (2) If the prosecuting attorney is not successful in notifying the victim of an event described in subsection (1) within the period set forth in that subsection, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the victim of that event as soon as possible by any means reasonably calculated to give the victim prompt actual notice.
  (3) The prosecuting attorney shall provide the victim with a brief explanation in plain English of the appeal process, including the possible dispositions.
  (4) If the case is returned to the trial court for further proceedings or a new trial, the victim has the same rights as previously requested during the proceedings that led to the appeal.