Marisa has always had an extreme passion for criminal law. Since the first grade, she has never wavered in her desire to become a criminal defense attorney. She believes that protecting the constitutional rights of clients is her calling.
Marisa worked at the State Appellate Defender Office in Detroit, specifically in the Juvenile Lifer Unit, where she fought for the rights of juveniles to obtain constitutional sentences under the newly enacted law. She also worked in the Michigan State University College of Law’s Civil Rights Clinic. This gave Marisa an opportunity to litigate on behalf of prisoners whose civil rights had been violated in the prison system. Marisa’s work has been instrumental to many of our firm’s wins, including a recent victory at the Sixth Circuit challenging the constitutionality of a federal statute.
Being involved in the legal community is something Marisa enjoys. She is a member of multiple organizations, such as the State Bar of Michigan Criminal Law, Animal Law, Marijuana Law, and Prisons/Corrections sections.
In her free time, Marisa loves traveling the world, cheering on all of the Detroit sports teams, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Education
- Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, MI
- Juris Doctor, summa cum laude
- The Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute
- Teaching Assistant for Civil Procedure and Trial Practice Institute Pretrial I
- Jurisprudence Awards for the highest grades in Research, Writing and Analysis (specialized criminal law section); Advocacy; Evidence; and Trial Practice Institute Pretrial I
- Donald Nystrom Best Brief Semi-Finalist
- Walter E. Oberer Scholarship and Faculty Scholarship recipient
- Secretary, Black Law Students Association
- Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI
- Bachelor of Science in Philosophy and Political Science, magna cum laude
- Centralis Scholar Award recipient
