Kalamazoo Defender

06/17/2026

Kalamazoo Defender will be representing at Rootead’s Juneteenth Celebration this Saturday, June 20th at 1:00 PM in Bronson Park. Please stop by, say hello, and pick up a new Know Your Rights Card. We’ll have them available for adults and youth.

06/17/2026

Our office will close Thursday, June 18th at 3 p.m. and reopen on Monday, June 22nd at 8:45 a.m. in observation of Juneteenth.

06/15/2026

Last week, our legal interns stood next to our intern coordinators and were sworn in before Judge Hemingway and will now be allowed to appear on the record in cases with the supervision of our licensed attorneys.

These students will gain invaluable experience this summer and will work to further the mission of Kalamazoo Defender.

We look forward to having them as part of the team this summer!

06/12/2026

Happy Loving Day!

June 12 marks the anniversary of Loving v. Virginia (1967), the landmark Supreme Court decision that struck down laws banning in*******al marriage across the U.S.

For Kalamazoo Defender, Loving Day is a powerful reminder that laws, when rooted in injustice, must be challenged. It reaffirms our commitment to defending the dignity and rights of every individual, no matter their background, identity, or whom they love.

Loving Day reminds us that love is a civil right, and justice demands we protect it.

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06/12/2026

Welcome Marwa, Lindsey, Finn, Antonio, Desiree, Chelsea, and Camryn!

Did you know Kalamazoo Defender has one of the top Public Defense internships in the country?

This summer, we welcome these seven wonderful law students from across the Midwest. Kalamazoo Defender is committed to fostering the talent of future generations of fierce advocates.

This week, our legal interns were sworn in before Judge Hemingway and will now be allowed to appear on the record in cases with the supervision of our licensed attorneys.

These students will gain invaluable experience this summer and will work to further the mission of Kalamazoo Defender. Please join us in welcoming them!

06/11/2026

Please join us in welcoming Cohran Brown and Aliya Thielman to Kalamazoo Defender this summer!

Both Cohran and Aliya are proud Kalamazoo Promise Scholars, graduates of Kalamazoo Central High School, and current students at Michigan State University. We are excited to have them join our team as they gain hands-on experience in public defense, community engagement, and the holistic support services that help us fight for justice in the courts, care in the community, and dignity in the world.

At Kalamazoo Defender, we believe in investing in the next generation of leaders and creating opportunities for young people to explore meaningful careers while giving back to the community that helped shape them.

Welcome, Cohran and Aliya, we're excited to learn alongside you this summer!

06/09/2026

We are helping collect books for a library for the Kalamazoo County Jail. If you have any books that fit the description in the below images, just drop them by any of the 3 locations listed. Thanks in advance.

06/06/2026

Kalamazoo Defender had a blast at Pride last night. Thanks to all who stopped by to share the love.🌈

05/28/2026

Kalamazoo Defender is seeking a receptionist to join our team who is adaptable and resilient,
comfortable in a fast-paced, client-facing environment. This person is highly organized and vigilant, who possess strong situational awareness, time management skills, and a dependable, collaborative approach to supporting communication, documentation, and day-to-day office operations. They are also deeply committed to holistic defense and client advocacy, and approach their work with professionalism, compassion, and sound judgment.

Please check out the link below for more details.

Kalamazoo Defender is an independent non-profit organization that provides legal representation to the adult indigent population charged with a crime within Kalamazoo County. We take a holistic approach, employing compassionate professionals who work with our clients to identify and address addition...