Sofia Nelson Email & Phone Number

Detroit, Michigan, United States

• Provide zealous client-centered representation to individuals charged with felonies in state court from the probable cause conference through verdict. Manage litigation teams of clients, paralegals, investigators, expert witnesses, client advocates, and social workers.• Responsible for all aspects of litigation including client and witness engagement, discovery, motion practice, preliminary exams, plea negotiations, mitigation, evidentiary hearings, trial, and sentencing.• Represented… Show more • Provide zealous client-centered representation to individuals charged with felonies in state court from the probable cause conference through verdict. Manage litigation teams of clients, paralegals, investigators, expert witnesses, client advocates, and social workers.• Responsible for all aspects of litigation including client and witness engagement, discovery, motion practice, preliminary exams, plea negotiations, mitigation, evidentiary hearings, trial, and sentencing.• Represented over 300 clients resolving the vast majority of cases with dismissals, diversion, or favorable misdemeanor probationary pleas.• Obtained dismissals on Miranda violations, Fourth Amendment violations, credibility issues, and jurisdictional challenges.• Successfully tried three jury trials resulting in two not-guilty verdicts and one mistrial leading to a time-served misdemeanor plea resolution. Show less

Detroit, Mi

• Provided zealous holistic defense to people convicted of felonies in state trial courts, Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, Eastern District of Michigan, and Sixth Circuit.• Litigated and won People v. Stovall, 510 Mich 301 (2022) barring parolable life sentences for juveniles in Michigan resulting in hundreds of re-sentencings.• Successfully litigated 15 juvenile lifer cases securing the opportunity for freedom for children who were previously condemned to die in… Show more • Provided zealous holistic defense to people convicted of felonies in state trial courts, Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, Eastern District of Michigan, and Sixth Circuit.• Litigated and won People v. Stovall, 510 Mich 301 (2022) barring parolable life sentences for juveniles in Michigan resulting in hundreds of re-sentencings.• Successfully litigated 15 juvenile lifer cases securing the opportunity for freedom for children who were previously condemned to die in prison.• Won dozens of direct appeals securing sentence reductions, plea withdrawals, new trials, vacation of conviction, and vacation of fines.• Was responsible for all aspects of litigation including client, family, and witness engagement, mitigation investigation, briefing, negotiation, working with experts, evidentiary hearings, oral argument, re-sentencings, reentry planning, and press work.• Advocated to ban death-in-prison sentences for children in Michigan and worked with the Michigan legislature and state and national advocacy organizations on juvenile sentencing matters.• Ran the office’s law student intern program, including hiring and supervision of interns. Show less

Detroit, Mi

• Developed and co-counseled litigation focused on collateral consequences, including extensive work on Doe v Snyder No 2:12-cv-11194 (ED Mich) (successfully challenging Michigan’s Sex Offender Registry) and Barry v Corrigan No 2:2013-cv-13185 (ED Mich) (successfully challenging the termination of food assistance of people with outstanding warrants).• Was responsible for initial investigations, drafting litigation materials, discovery, FOIA requests and review, depositions, client… Show more • Developed and co-counseled litigation focused on collateral consequences, including extensive work on Doe v Snyder No 2:12-cv-11194 (ED Mich) (successfully challenging Michigan’s Sex Offender Registry) and Barry v Corrigan No 2:2013-cv-13185 (ED Mich) (successfully challenging the termination of food assistance of people with outstanding warrants).• Was responsible for initial investigations, drafting litigation materials, discovery, FOIA requests and review, depositions, client interviews, and legal research in impact litigation matters.• Testified before the state legislature to advocate for ALCU’s position on proposed legislation. Show less

New Haven, Ct

• Secured release of detained veteran Legal Permanent Resident and prevented his deportation.• Represented a disabled veteran in a landmark challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, winning the spousal service-connected disability benefits she had been denied due to her same-sex marriage (Cardona v. Shinseki, No. 11-3083).• Drafted and shepherded a bill into law creating a statewide, veteran-specific, jail diversion program.• Litigated in Board of Veterans Appeals and the Court of… Show more • Secured release of detained veteran Legal Permanent Resident and prevented his deportation.• Represented a disabled veteran in a landmark challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, winning the spousal service-connected disability benefits she had been denied due to her same-sex marriage (Cardona v. Shinseki, No. 11-3083).• Drafted and shepherded a bill into law creating a statewide, veteran-specific, jail diversion program.• Litigated in Board of Veterans Appeals and the Court of Appeals of Veterans Claims. Show less

Seattle, Wa

• Represented people accused of misdemeanors and people facing or seeking release from civil commitment for sexual delinquency.• Co-counseled a civil commitment release trial resulting in a hung jury and ultimately the negotiated release of the client from civil commitment.

Grand Rapids, Mi

• Worked on multiple litigation projects including the decriminalization of panhandling, the excessiveness of the Michigan Sex Offender Registration, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) abuse.• Researched and wrote a legal memorandum on venue issues for Bivens and Federal Tort Claims Act claims and due process concerns surrounding lifetime trespass bans.• Assisted in litigation development by interviewing potential plaintiffs, which included trips to local jails, homeless… Show more • Worked on multiple litigation projects including the decriminalization of panhandling, the excessiveness of the Michigan Sex Offender Registration, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) abuse.• Researched and wrote a legal memorandum on venue issues for Bivens and Federal Tort Claims Act claims and due process concerns surrounding lifetime trespass bans.• Assisted in litigation development by interviewing potential plaintiffs, which included trips to local jails, homeless shelters, and courthouses, and reviewing court records and police reports. Show less

Burlington, Vermont Area

• Recruited, trained, and supervised dozens of volunteers for the Burlington area Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Additionally coordinated two free tax preparation clinics focused on increasing access to the Earned Income Tax Credit.• Facilitated and administered a coalition of local businesses and non-profits focused on increasing economic opportunity—duties included grant writing and reporting, meeting facilitation, and administrative tasks.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Assisted in congressional lobbying efforts for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.3• Researched and assisted in drafting a guide for transgender inclusion on university campuses.• Researched state and Canadian province policies for changing gender markers on driver’s licenses.• Provided office support including research, scheduling, database maintenance, and fielding constituent concerns.

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Activities and Societies: Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization Board Member; Journal of Law and Feminism; Research Assistant.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Political Science And Women & Gender Studies, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Activities and Societies: Tufts Progressive Alumni Network; Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; Team Q: LGBTQ Student Speakers.