Eli Savit: We just got a $750,000 grant from the U.S Department of Justice in partnership with the Courts and with Corner Health over in Ypsilanti. Their romance blossomed at the courthouse in the weeks that followed, where they began making any excuse to visit each others office. His abundant empathy for others shines through in his time as Washtenaw Countys Prosecuting Attorney and that is clear by the decisions he has made about which laws to enforce and how much punishment should be received. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The program were putting into place with this grant money is a diversion program for young primary caregivers. (File photo) Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Burton-Harris were ceremonially sworn into office by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget. Eli's 4-year term began on January 1 st, 2021 Eli has dedicated this career to public service. Savit said on the campaign trial he hadnt reviewed all the evidence in the Rosser case, so he didnt know whether charges were warranted, but he thinks any officer-involved shooting should be handled by a special outside prosecutor since theres a close relationship between the local prosecutors office and local police, raising questions about impartiality. When he was running for office, his campaign promised to break down racial and socioeconomic inequality within Washtenaw County. Two protests convened on State street in the morning, one encouraging Ann Arbor police to walk with them, and the other group encouraging protestors to remember Aura Rosser, who was shot and killed by Ann Arbor police in 2014.Jenna Kieser, Washtenaw prosecutor launches effort to review thousands of past cases for racial bias. They have a loved one thats potentially going to harm themselves. He does so by his initiation of problem-solving courts that send individuals to programs designed to tackle mental health or drug use rehabilitation. [32][4][11], Less than two weeks after Savit announced his candidacy, 28-year incumbent prosecutor Brian Mackie announced his retirement. Throughout his time in Detroit, he fought for criminal justice reform. Savit is also a lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School. [11] He also regularly serves as a pro-bono cooperating attorney for civil-rights groups in Michigan. He has litigated in the Michigan Supreme Court on behalf of the ACLU, the League of Women Voters, and the American Association of University Women. Savit won the August primary election against [] These include truancy, tobacco or vaping-related offenses, marijuana-related offenses, or disorderly conduct offenses. We cant just throw up our hands and say were not going to do anything about it. He graduated from Kalamazoo College, where he played college basketball and was voted senior class commencement speaker. After law school, Eli worked for two federal judges, then as an appellate and Supreme Court lawyer. [46], Savit was sworn into office on January 2, 2021. Rachel Tocco is a Project Manager and a Research Area Specialist Senior with Michigan Medicine. Savit attended Kalamazoo College, and was chosen as the senior class commencement speaker. This page is not available in other languages. [12] Among other things, he led the negotiating team that, in 2017, struck a $48 million community benefits agreement with the Canadian government related to the Gordie Howe International Bridge, to be spent on job training, health monitoring, and environmental remediation in Southwest Detroit. He graduated from Pioneer High School and then went to Kalamazoo College. He is a proud union member, as part of the Lecturers Employee Organization (American Federation of Teachers-Michigan Local 6244). "The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office is. In his academic capacity, he has published scholarly articles on topics such as state and local government, educational equity, campaign-finance reform, and environmental law. Newsletters on the topics that interest you most, like the Detroit Dinner Bell, Red Wings Report, Auto Insider and so many more, are delivered in your inbox each morning. Eli Savit: These are great programs. Savit spreads his knowledge and passion for equitability within the judicial system, and gives hope that in the future, the judicial system will be fair for all. A Washtenaw County native, Savit grew up in Ann Arbor and graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School (where he captained the basketball team). 2023 The University of Michigan Law School. [52], On January 14, 2021, Savit announced that his office would no longer prosecute consensual sex work, instead focusing on human trafficking, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation of children. Others criticized Savits statement on social media. Prosecutor Eli Savit, who was sworn in to office Saturday, says his policy eliminating cash bail is the first of its kind in Michigan. "They saved my life. At the same time, the directive emphasizes the prosecutors office cant ignore the spate of high-profile incidents across the country involving police who abused their authority, inflicting lethal force on Black civilians, assaulting civilians and in some cases trying to cover up their actions. A former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Eli currently serves as the City of Detroits senior legal counsel, where he leads criminal-justice reform work for Michigans largest city. Currently, Savit is working on a major initiative that would connect returning citizens to jobs in Southeast Michigan or Northern Ohio with good paying union jobs. Prosecutor Owes Thousands in Campaign Finance Fines Related to Failed Run, State Administrative Law Judge Reverses Trial Court: Rules Striking Grad Students Must Stop Their Strike, Open Letter: U-M Faculty Pledge to Withhold Grades You Have Refused to Bargain in Good Faith, Judge Carol Kuhnke Denies U-M Request for Order to Force Grad Assistants Back to Work, Movie Review: Are You There, God? Vigil, march for woman fatally shot by Ann Arbor police officer enters sixth year. It means that his team must work harder and longer on their cases so that they can treat every case individually and with compassion. Detroit Cookie Company opens Ann Arbor bakery, Judge finds some of polluters arguments in Ann Arbor dioxane case significantly valid, 131-year-old Ypsilanti brick water tower is worth celebrating, local brewer says. Eli Savit is a Washtenaw County native. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Michigan Democratic Party, and on the Executive Board of the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [33] Savit was endorsed by multiple elected officials and community leaders, including former Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed, State Senator Jeff Irwin, and three previous chairs of the Michigan Democratic Party. He won and replaced his predecessor, who held the position for twenty-eight years. and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In addition to his work in Detroit, Eli is a faculty member at the University of Michigan Law School. [18], Savit maintains an appointment at the University of Michigan Law School, where he teaches classes on public-interest litigation and state and local government. The evidence in question stemmed from surveillance video in which Johnsons father positively identified his son. Theyve been studied and the recidivism rate is significantly lower for these programs than the traditional legal system., Eli Savit: Now were in the exciting part which is building with our community partners and building those alternatives that will set people up for success.. With a subpoena a records request can take weeks. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. He served as lead counsel for the City in Gary B. v. Snyder, a successful lawsuit which sought to establish that Detroit schoolchildren have been denied their fundamental right to literacy. "That clearly didn't happen here.. 3210 Jeffries Hall. In fact, every avenue *was* pursued in this case.. County Prosecutor Released Public Statement to Retaliate Against Victim for Speaking to Media. Eli Savit: "Every case that comes into our system involves a unique human story.". On October 21, First Assistant Prosecutor Hines, when speaking to Beverly, who has been assisting the victim, allegedly said that should the victim continue to speak to the media, and should the negative publicity continue, the Prosecutor would release a much longer statement, which would be much more damaging to the victim. The directive instructs prosecutors to review all relevant materials including body-camera, dashboard cameras, and any other photographic, video, or audio materials that exist prior to authorizing a resisting-and-obstructing charge., Q&A: How Eli Savit plans to reform criminal justice in Washtenaw County, Michigan, State theaters launch fundraiser to keep Ann Arbor landmarks alive, Q&A: Ann Arbor affordable housing leader explains ambitious $397M plan, A closer look at whats in Ann Arbors new transportation plan, Ann Arbor considering ban on police use of facial-recognition technology. Savit gives second chances for people so they can rejoin their community. [53] The move was praised by national advocates as a "win for marginalized people" and trafficked persons. He formerly served as a law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was a civil-rights and public-interest attorney, and started his career as a public-school teacher. ANN ARBOR, MI Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit has rolled out two new policies regarding how to handle cases involving alleged police violence and cases where civilians are accused of resisting and obstructing police. The first new policy directive Savit announced Friday, Jan. 8, requires the prosecutors office to recuse itself and seek the appointment of an outside special prosecutor in all cases in which charges might be sought against police officers who engaged in violence against civilians. [1], After graduating from law school, Savit worked as a law clerk for Judge Carlos T. Bea on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and for Judge David S. Tatel on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Eli Savit was recruited to run among a group of legal progressives nationwide in an effort by billionaire financier George Soros to make criminal justice on the local level more equitable. Eli Savit: Its really about getting people the help they need. Eli Savit is an attorney, a law professor, and a former public school teacher, who is currently serving as the elected Prosecuting Attorney for Washtenaw County, MI. Last edited on 14 February 2023, at 04:55, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. [47] During his first several weeks in office, Savit announced several major policy changes in the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office that garnered national attention. Eli Savit welcomes this time consuming task and is always working to build more programs to further make the judicial system as equitable as possible. Savit emphasized his new policy is to ensure fair and impartial justice for all parties, including police. "It's like deja vu.. Contrary to accepted practices, Savit had the alleged assailant charged, arraigned on a $3 million bond and jailed before he had put together a case against the man, and before investigators had a chance to gather all the necessary evidence. Eli was then selected to work as a law clerk for United States Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day OConnor (ret.). Sources inside and outside the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office allege that County Prosecutor Eli Savit released an October 21 public statement in which Savit attempted to discredit a 27-year-old, Black victim of sexual and domestic violence, because the victim spoke to the media. As Johnson held his mother in his arms, he expressed thanks for his family that stood by his side, along with the new family that stood there too. In addition to serving as Washtenaw County's Prosecuting Attorney, Eli is a faculty member at the University of Michigan Law School. All rights reserved (About Us). [4] In that capacity, Savit oversaw thousands of public-interest lawsuits against banks and for-profit corporations, including suits against tax-delinquent corporate landlords and against the opioid industry. He formerly served as a law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was a civil-rights and . In Savits time in office, he has worked to build a stronger community that offers second chances to its citizens. Youve done everything weve asked for and got back on track. [28] He is also a frequent contributor to the legal blog Take Care, where he primarily writes about environmental issues. On the day of the preliminary hearing, detectives contacted only one of those individuals. Savit had no experience as a criminal prosecutor when he threw his hat into the ring. Savit highlighted the Rosser case in his new policy directive, noting Mackies decision to not charge the officer has led to pronounced and sustained community backlash. After law school, Eli worked for two federal judges, then as an appellate and Supreme Court lawyer. Burton-Harris, the woman says, asked her to stop commenting on the Prosecutors Facebook post. He sued banks, slumlords, and corporations whose housing policies were hurting Detroit residents. Its an all-encompassing job, he said, adding that they would talk to each other about various cases. His work has also been published in popular publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, Slate, The Hill, and MLive.com. To date, Savit has enacted 11 policy directives geared toward shifting the county to a more progressive form of criminal justice, saying he wont prosecute cases involving consensual prostitution or drugs like magic mushrooms. Five months ago, with assistance from Fair Michigan Justice Project (FMJP), Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit charged James Alan Greggs with committing a hate crime against a transgender woman in Ann Arbor.. Now, Greggs, 59, is freed from the Washtenaw County Jail while his criminal case develops. The victim alleges that she provided the names of four individuals who would corroborate her claims of sexual assault, including two licensed psychotherapists. He spearheaded the Citys efforts to make it easier for people to expunge criminal records. Trusted, up-to-date local Detroit and Michigan-wide breaking news. As a result, investigations into 15 felonies, including cyberstalking, were disorganized. This is precisely why we started our Conviction Integrity and Expungement Unit to look back at these old cases and to remedy past injustices, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit said. During his time with the City of Detroit, he earned a reputation as a fighter who is unafraid to take on powerful interests. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. His areas of expertise include civil rights, education law, environmental protection, state and local government, and criminal-justice reform. [45] Savit's announcement came on the heels of a City Council resolution in Ann ArborWashtenaw County's largest citythat deemed possession, use, and cultivation of entheogenic plants Ann Arbor's "lowest law enforcement priority". And Im hopeful that those effects have ripple effects that spread out across the county.. Perhaps, the victim said something she or he shouldnt have said, or committed some infraction of the assailants rules. Such behavior is termed reactive abuse.. Savit gains empathy for those within his community by being an exceptional community member. Following graduation, Savit worked as an eighth-grade social studies teacher. He does it by breaking the school to prison pipeline. Professor Eli Savit serves as the elected Prosecuting Attorney for Washtenaw County. Throughout his career in public service, he has witnessed first-hand the cascading consequences of a broken criminal-justice system. With more than 30 days under his belt as the countys newly elected prosecutor, it would be hard to deny he isnt living up to his campaign promises. These programs include the Drug Treatment Court in the 22nd Circuit Court, Veterans Treatment Court, Sobriety Court, and Mental Health Court in the 15th District Court, among others. Daniel Nichanian Aug 05, 2020 Political Report Progressives Score New Wins in Prosecutor Elections, Adding to the Movement's Breadth A Washtenaw County native, Eli grew up in Ann Arbor and graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School (where he captained the basketball team). Then, on October 21, at a preliminary hearing before Judge Cedric Simpson, First Assistant Prosecutor Christina Hines dropped the charges against Smith due to lack of evidence. The ACLU, the NAACP, Campaign Zero and multiple scholars and practitioners have all called for the appointment of special prosecutors in cases of alleged police violence. Savit then issued policy directives stating his office would not pursue charges for minor marijuana and other drug offenses or possession of addictive opioid drugs, followed by directives to not pursue charges against people engaged in consensual sex work or juveniles accused of minor crimes such as truancy and possession of alcohol. Eli Savit is the exception to many other prosecutors. He is running for Washtenaw County Prosecutor to ensure equitable justice for all Washtenaw County residents. He then attended law school at the University of Michigan, where he graduated magna cum laude and served as the Book Review Editor on the Michigan Law Review. Eric Sturgis is a former Ann Arbor City Council candidate and a long-time Ann Arbor resident. According to an MLive report, the Washtenaw County Jail granted James Alan Greggs a personal . After his time at the Supreme Court, he returned to Michigan to work as the City of Detroits senior legal counsel. Police officers put their lives on the line in the name of public safety and they deserve fair and impartial justice when accused of a crime, Savit said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. [5][6][7] Savit also led the City's legal efforts in civil-rights cases. No other lawyer Ive talked to has seen anything like it. When the opportunity arose, Savit ran for the position of Washtenaw Countys Prosecuting Attorney. "I'm just overwhelmed.. Eli serves, or has served, on a number of youth-focused boards of directors, including the Detroits Hope Starts Here Early Childhood Initiative Stewardship Board, the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren, the Board of Directors at Ypsilantis FLY Children's Art Center. A stalking victim who responded to Savits statement on the Prosecutors Facebook page claimed that she received a phone call from Savits Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Victoria Burton-Harris. The victim said she was asked to sign a medical release just two days before the October 21 preliminary hearing at which First Prosecuting Attorney Christina Hines asked Judge Simpson to dismiss all charges against Jeffrey Dwayne Smith due to lack of evidence. Eli has also earned a reputation as a staunch advocate for children and families. A Washtenaw County native, Eli grew up in Ann Arbor and graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School (where he captained the basketball team). [43], On November 10, 2020, Savit announced that he would appoint Victoria Burton-Harris as Washtenaw County's Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Soros supported candidates through his Real Justice PAC. His policy regarding truancy is preemptive as in practice the prosecutors office has no role in truancy cases. And he led the Citys landmark legal efforts to establish that all children have a constitutional right to learn how to read and write. His policy is the latest victory for advocates nationwide who are working to eliminate financial conditions for pretrial release. Mackie determined Officer David Rieds lethal use of force was justified since Rosser reportedly approached officers with a knife raised in an attack position and ignored commands to drop it. [44] Burton-Harris ran for Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney in the August 2020 Democratic primary against long-time incumbent prosecutor Kym Worthy. Without the debt, people are better positioned to meet their basic needs beyond what the jail provides, he said, adding when basic needs are met, behavior within the jail is improved. Marable concurred that cell tower records dont prove whether a crime has taken place. Savit maintains Mackie should have recused himself and referred the high-profile case of the Aura Rosser shooting in 2014 to the attorney general to be assigned to another county prosecutor. Since Eli Savits election I have grown hopeful that change can happen. Eli Savit: We can say all day that the criminal legal system isnt the answer [to everything]. Representative matters on which he has worked include a successful legal effort to have the Michigan Civil Rights Commission recognize discrimination claims against LGBTQ Michiganders, and assisting the States of New Jersey and Maryland and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in their efforts to hold corporate polluters responsible for PFAS and MTBE contamination in the states waterways. He is a son of Kathleen A. Savit and Robert S. Savit of Ann Arbor, Mich. Judge David S. Tatel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District. You see this guy. Today, over six years later, there are still marches and rallies in our community protesting the handling of Aura Rossers death, Savit noted. "We are committed to not just remedying past errors but making sure that errors like this never happen again.. Its refreshing to have an ethical, progressive-minded prosecutor., In an October 21 interview, hours before Savit released is statement, Christina Hines told The Ann Arbor Independent, I dont want the victim to feel any worse than she already does. It is impossible to prosecute every single alluded crime that comes forth, so prosecutors use their discretion to decide what to pursue and what not to, Michigan State University College of Law Professor Barbara OBrien said. The Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office will, after reviewing all available evidence, continue to vigorously pursue such charges where appropriate, especially where a person assaults a law enforcement officer, his directive states. [51] Savit cited research demonstrating that prosecution of buprenorphine leads people in recovery to "backslide" and use more dangerous drugs like fentanyl and heroin. Historically, the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office has not aggressively pursued non-payment of jail debt through creditors or other means, Clayton said.
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