Member of Devontae Sanford's legal team speaks at WMU-Cooley

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School’s Integrity in Our Communities Speaker Series will feature a lunch discussion with Valerie Newman, attorney with the State Appellate Defender’s office, on Wednesday, June 29.

The event starts at noon at WMU-Cooley Law School’s Auburn Hills campus, Room AH 145. 

The topic of the discussion will be the importance of civility when promoting justice.

Newman was instrumental in earning the release of Davontae Sanford earlier this month. Sanford was wrongfully convicted at the age of 14 of a quadruple homicide and served nine years in prison before being released.

Newman has worked for the State Appellate Defender’s office for more than 20 years. She successfully argued Lafler v. Cooper, which dealt with issues of ineffective assistance of counsel during plea negotiations in a criminal case, before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Those interested in attending the luncheon should register with tempah1@cooley.edu