Firm Overview

Michael J. McCarthy prides himself on providing his clients with high quality legal representation based upon more than thirty years of experience spent trying difficult, serious criminal cases. He has been called upon time and again to represent indigent defendants charged in high profile cases with infamous crimes. His diligent preparation for trial and his ability in the courtroom defending his clients against the most serious of criminal charges is well known in the legal community. He has earned the respect of the prosecutors against whom he has tried cases, the judges before whom he has appeared and his peers in the criminal defense bar.

Mr. McCarthy promises all of his clients that -- while he cannot guarantee an outcome -- when their trial is concluded they will know that they were in a fair fight. That is because of his keen ability to cross examine witnesses and expose the weaknesses in their testimony, and to present persuasive arguments to the jury.

Mr. McCarthy’s courtroom and trial experience has assisted him in his appellate practice just as his appellate practice has made him a better trial attorney. During the past thirty years he has appeared before the Michigan Court of Appeals many times each year. He has argued before the Michigan Supreme Court in five separate cases and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in three separate cases.

His appellate practice includes direct appeals filed immediately after sentencing as well as post appellate motions for relief from judgment and federal habeas corpus actions.

While the major focus of Mr. McCarthy’s practice is criminal defense his practice also includes probate and estate planning, civil litigation, general business, divorce and real estate transactions.