Since 1976, when the William J. Campbell Law Office first opened its doors, the practice of law has seen vast changes in the laws and statutes of the State of Michigan, as well as in the federal legal system. We have been providing legal counsel to the central Michigan area through our East Lansing and Mt. Pleasant offices since 1976. Because of the rapidly changing landscape of the law, a need for experience and understanding of the complexity and intricacies of law is more important than ever. The William J. Campbell Law Office possesses that experience.

The criminal legal system in its own right has become more and more complex and challenging with the advent of greater use of technology and aggressive prosecution. DUI and other alcohol and drug offences are now strictly enforced and subject to severe penalties that result in fines, jail time and loss of driving privileges. A loss of a driver’s license in many cases can result in a loss of employment and social stigmatization. It is becoming increasingly important to have a capable attorney represent you in these times of adversity.

Over the past few years many new criminal statutes have been enacted creating new areas of criminalization of behavior with penalties that range from misdemeanors to felonies. These new statutes can result in imprisonment. DNA sampling and maintenance of DNA in databases has been greatly expanded in this new legislation for future reference and prosecution. Public Acts 442, 446, 463, 465 and 468, of 2008 establish new penalties for moving violations that seriously injure or kill another person. Public Act 192 of 2008 allows a judge or magistrate to order a person to wear a global positioning device as condition of bond for a person accused of domestic violence. Publics Acts 519-521 and 577 of 2008 include new factors that constitute child abuse whereby knowing that you have placed a child at an unreasonable risk of harm which causes mental harm to the child can result in imprisonment and 5 years of probation.

One example of a recent statutory enactment against drunk driving is the “Super Drunk Law”, became effective in October of 2010. This new statute creates a new category for drunk driving convictions. If your blood / alcohol content is 0.17 or above, and you are convicted, you will lose your license for 90 days, be subjected to jail time of up to 180 days, mandated participation and successful completion of a treatment program for at least one year, suspension of license (with no prior conviction’s) for one year with a restricted license available with the use of a breath/ alcohol interlock device (BAID) installed on your vehicle after 45 days.

This device must be used for the balance of the minimum period of suspension of one year. This statute will also include the previously enacted penalties for other alcohol related offenses; including the payment of a yearly “bad driver penalty” to the State of Michigan for two years to maintain your driver’s license. Other ramifications follow that include higher insurance rates and points on your driver’s license. Needless to say the consequences of such a conviction are dramatic.

Standing alone, without an aggressive legal defense, leaves the accused at a serious disadvantage in defending his/her legal rights. Our offices have vigorously represented the accused since 1976. Our pledge to our clients is an aggressive defense to insure justice.

We provide an aggressive defense in the area of criminal law, drunk driving, MIP, driver’s license restoration.

Further, we maintain a civil trial practice that includes family law/ divorce, child neglect, wills & probate law and real estate.

If you feel that we can be of assistance in a time of need for aggressive legal representation, please call at us at our Mt. Pleasant or Lansing offices.

William J. Campbell, J.D.