No one person has had as much impact on the idea of euthanasia and the “right-to-die” in Michigan history as Dr. Jack Kevorkian. In his scope as a physician, he assisted at least 130 terminally ill people between 1990 and 1998 in ending their lives. In each...
Homicide Offenses
What Are The Penalties For Soliciting A Murder Or Felony In Michigan?
Obviously, committing a murder or a felony is a serious crime in Michigan that can result in a lengthy stay in state prison. However, it is also a crime if you try to solicit someone else to commit the murder or felony for you. “Solicit” means “to offer to...
Can The Parents Of A Teenage Mass Shooter Be Convicted Of Involuntary Manslaughter In Michigan?
On November 30, 2021, a mass shooting occurred at Oxford High School in Oakland County, Michigan where four students were killed and seven people were injured. Law enforcement arrested and charged 15-year old high school sophomore Ethan Crumbley as a suspect...
Michigan’s Castle Doctrine: What Are The Limits of Using Deadly Self-Defense To Protect Your Home?
Michigan law enshrines the right to use deadly force in self-defense or defense of others when permitted to do so. In addition, a person is also presumed to be allowed to use deadly force in self-defense or defense of others when he or she is attacked in their...
When Can You Use Deadly Force In Self-Defense In Michigan?
In Michigan, there are certain circumstances in which a person may use deadly force in self-defense against another person. If someone uses lethal power outside of the boundaries of the law, then he or she could be charged with murder or manslaughter. Many...
What Are The Grounds For Involuntary Manslaughter In Michigan?
The crime of involuntary manslaughter in Michigan is one of the lowest level homicide offenses you can be charged with when someone is killed. This category is intended to cover homicides that fall into the “accidental" category, meaning that the actor did not...
What Are The Grounds For Voluntary Manslaughter In Michigan?
The crime of voluntary manslaughter is a homicide offense in the State of Michigan that can result in substantial fines and prison time. It is not as severe as the crime of murder (which can result in prison for life) but is much more serious than negligent...
What Is The “Felony-Murder” Rule In Michigan?
At common law, the felony-murder rule is a legal doctrine that expands the crime of murder to situations where the offender does not necessarily have the intent to kill. If an offender is involved in the commission of a felony (e.g. armed robbery, rape or...
What Are The Grounds For Second-Degree Murder In Michigan?
There are two tiers of murder in Michigan: first-degree murder and second-degree murder. First-degree murder is the killing of another person with malice but with the aggravating factors of premeditation or deliberation, felony-murder or the killing of a peace...
What Are The Grounds For First-Degree Murder In Michigan?
There are two tiers of murder in Michigan: first-degree murder and second-degree murder. A killing that results in a conviction for first-degree murder will cause the offender to spend the rest of his or her natural life in prison. What are the grounds for a...
