James R. Samuels - Big Rapids, MI

James R. Samuels Overview

Jim Samuels is a trial attorney with over 30 years of courtroom experience. He served as the elected Prosecuting Attorney in Mecosta County for 12 years and also served on the Board of Directors for the Prosecuting Attorney's Association of Michigan. He has taught advanced trial practice to prosecutors throughout the state.

After returning to private practice in 1996, Jim Samuels focused the majority of his practice on criminal defense. He's been recognized by other criminal lawyers around Michigan for his trial skills in criminal cases. He is on the faculty of the Criminal Defense Attorneys Trial College and provides training for other criminal defense attorneys. He serves as the President of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan and was the Chairman of the Thomas M. Cooley Innocence Project Commission.

Jim Samuels has written and published on the topic of false confession and also on issues related to confessions by the mentally retarded. He is currently promoting legislation that would require law enforcement to record interrogation and is working within the criminal justice system to implement reforms on eyewitness identification. Mr. Samuels is President of Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan and was appointed to the State Bar of Michigan's Task Force for recording interrogations. He received the prestigious 2006 Justice for All Award from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan for exceptional dedication and service to the cause of justice.  He also received the Cahill Leadership Award from the State Bar of Michigan in 2011 for the A is for Attorney program he developed to train new attorneys on how to be effective criminal defense attorneys.  He offered testimony to the Governor’s Indigent Defense Reform commission in December of 2011.

James Samuels was recently selected as one of Michigan's "Super Lawyers" in the area of criminal defense. Super Lawyers are selected based on a number of criteria including, but not limited to: representation of clients, experience, awards, peer evaluation, and professional activities. Only 5% of the lawyers in the state are chosen for Super Lawyer status.

Mr. Samuels professional activities include:

• Criminal Law Section of the State of Michigan
• Adjunct professor at Ferris State University teaching the legal aspects of Social Work Course
• National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Former Chairman of the Innocence Commission, which oversees the Cooley Law School Innocence Project
• Recipient of the Justice for All Award
• State Bar of Michigan Task Force for recording interrogations
• Michigan Super Lawyer

Practice Areas

• Criminal Defense 65%
• Family Law 25%
• Litigation 10%

Litigation

Current Employment Position(s)

• Trial Attorney