Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Monday appointed five people to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission.
One of them is from the Upper Peninsula…former Marquette County Prosecutor Gary Walker, who’s now the Chocolay Township Supervisor. He’ll be on the commission until the start of 2026.
The governor also appointed five people to the Michigan Underwater salvage and Preserve Committee.
One of them is from the U.P.: Dan Friedhoff. He’s the owner and operator of St. Ignace Scuba. Friedhoff will serve until August of 2025.
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was created as a result of efforts to improve legal representation for indigent criminal defendants. The Commission develops and oversees the implementation, enforcement, and modification of minimum standards, rules, and procedures to ensure that indigent criminal defense services providing effective assistance of counsel are delivered to all indigent adults in this state consistent with the safeguards of the United States Constitution, the State Constitution of 1963, and with the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Act.
The Underwater Salvage and Preserve Committee provides technical and other advice with respect to maintaining Michigan’s 13 underwater preserves. The Committee makes recommendations regarding the creation and boundaries of Great Lakes underwater preserves, reviews applications for salvage permits, gives recommendations regarding issuance of permits, and provides input regarding the charging of permit fees and the use of revenue generated.
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