Michigan Criminal Defense and Appellate Attorneys
Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC is a Michigan law firm representing individuals in criminal defense matters, criminal appeals, and post-conviction proceedings. The firm’s practice combines extensive trial-court experience with substantial appellate experience, allowing its attorneys to evaluate criminal cases from both perspectives.
The firm represents clients facing criminal charges in Michigan courts and individuals seeking review of criminal convictions and sentences. Its appellate work includes Michigan Court of Appeals matters, applications for leave to appeal, sentencing appeals, ineffective assistance of counsel claims, motions for relief from judgment, and matters involving potential review by the Michigan Supreme Court.
Attorney James Czarnecki
James Czarnecki has more than two decades of experience in criminal law, including criminal trials, motions, evidentiary hearings, plea negotiations, sentencing proceedings, and appeals. His appellate practice is informed by extensive experience representing defendants at the trial-court level—experience that can be particularly valuable when reviewing a record to identify preserved errors, ineffective assistance of counsel, evidentiary issues, sentencing errors, and other potential grounds for appellate relief.
Czarnecki’s legal background includes experience with the State Appellate Defender Office, Federal Defender, and Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. During law school at Wayne State University Law School, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Moot Court program. His practice has included serious felony cases as well as appellate litigation in Michigan courts.
His appellate work includes cases resulting in significant relief for criminal defendants, including reversals and published appellate decisions. The firm’s Michigan Docket legal articles also analyze appellate procedure, Michigan criminal cases, constitutional issues, sentencing law, and developments affecting criminal defendants.
Attorney Genevieve Taylor
Genevieve Taylor brings extensive criminal-law and courtroom experience to Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC. Her background includes representing clients in criminal matters and experience serving as a magistrate, providing perspective from both advocacy and judicial roles.
Taylor’s experience encompasses criminal defense, courtroom proceedings, and public service. Together, the firm’s attorneys bring experience from multiple sides of the justice system to the representation of individuals facing criminal charges and other serious legal consequences.
Why the Combination Matters
Trial Experience and Appellate Experience
Effective appellate representation requires more than the ability to research and write a legal brief. An appellate lawyer must understand how a criminal case develops in the trial court, how issues are preserved for review, how evidentiary rulings affect the record, how trial strategy interacts with claims of ineffective assistance, and how sentencing decisions can create appellate issues.
Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC’s criminal practice provides that perspective. The firm approaches appellate review by carefully examining the record, identifying potentially significant legal issues, researching the governing law, and developing focused appellate arguments.
Michigan Criminal Appeals and Post-Conviction Representation
The firm’s appellate practice includes matters involving:
• Michigan Court of Appeals
• Applications for leave to appeal
• Appeals following criminal trials
• Appeals following guilty or no-contest pleas
• Sentencing appeals
• Ineffective assistance of counsel
• Insufficient evidence claims
• Prosecutorial misconduct
• Evidentiary and constitutional errors
• Michigan Supreme Court applications
• MCR 6.500 motions for relief from judgment
Criminal Defense Representation
Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC also represents individuals facing criminal charges in Michigan trial courts. The firm’s criminal defense practice includes misdemeanor and felony matters, pretrial motions, evidentiary hearings, plea negotiations, trials, sentencing, and other stages of criminal proceedings.
Maintaining an active trial-level criminal defense practice also benefits the firm’s appellate work. Understanding what should occur before and during trial can be essential when later determining whether an error warrants appellate review.
Contact Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC
A criminal conviction, sentence, or pending criminal charge can have serious and lasting consequences. Individuals seeking criminal defense representation or an evaluation of potential appellate issues may contact Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC to discuss their case.