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Michael J. Nichols

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Monday, August 12, 2013

East Lansing Drunk Driving and Drug Driving Attorney Mike Nichols: the US Attorney General’s Move to Curb Stiff Drug Punishments is a Step in the Right Direction

By Michael Nichols
Categories: Michael J. Nichols

Many Americans are serving prison sentences for drug offenses. US Attorney General Eric Holder announced on August 11, 2013 a move to thin the number of inmates serving lengthy sentences for non-violent drug crimes. “The policy change to eliminate references to drug quantities for non-violent drug cases is a good first step,” says East Lansing attorney Mike Nichols. Nichols says “Attorney General Eric Holder announced that he intends to reduce the length of prison sentences in the federal system by changing the approach in the Justice Department. For years, US Attorneys tried to increase the prison exposure to a case by adding ‘points’ to a person’s sentencing guidelines score based on quantity. Mr. Holder’s announcement means that will change.”

Nichols represented many people from college students at Michigan State University charged with a crime to poorly educated people at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. His advice to anyone who is or may be charged with a drug crime in state or federal court: “there is no substitute for qualified counsel and a very thorough analysis of the case facts especially whether anyone in a drug conspiracy possessed or used weapons – the presence of weapons in a case makes judges and prosecutors look at facts completely differently and the people involved have a greater risk of a long prison term.” Coverage of the announcement can be found here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/us/justice-dept-seeks-to-curtail-stiff-drug-sentences.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130812&_r=0

Nichols is a resident of Meridian Township with a main office in East Lansing. He focuses his practice on defending those charged with drunk driving and drugged driving as well as complex criminal cases involving forensic issues. He is an adjunct professor of DUI Law and Practice and Forensic Evidence at Cooley Law school and author of the Michigan OWI Handbook for lawyers. mnichols@nicholslaw.net

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Peer Recognition

Mike Nichols is a national leader in drunk driving defense. He is a member of the Forensic Committee and Michigan delegate to the National College for DUI Defense. He is also a Sustaining Member of the College. Nichols is also a founding member of the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys; a member of the American Chemical Society; an associate member of he American Academy of Forensic Science, Adjunct Professor of Forensic Evidence in Criminal Law and OWI Law and Practice at Cooley Law School. He is also author of the West OWI Practice book and several chapters in other books on science and the law.

Mike Nichols is recognized by his peers in Michigan as a “SuperLawyer” in DUI/Criminal Defense. Nichols has also been asked to speak at conferences by groups such as the NCDD; Various Bar Associations in other states.