Ex-con Resigns as Law Clerk for Michigan Justice Before He Started — Who is Peter Martel?
He threw in the towel hours after it was announced he had the job
After taking office Sunday, The Detroit News reported Justice Kyra Bolden, appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, chose Peter Martel, an ex-convict as her key aide. Just hours after the announcement, The Detroit News reported Peter Martel resigned.
This was after scathing criticism from Justice Bernstein, fellow member of the court. Berstein said, “I’m all about second chances. But there are certain jobs you should never be allowed to have after you shoot at a police officer, and one of them is clerking for the highest court in the state.” He continued with, “I’m completely disgusted by this.”
Peter Martel served 14 years in prison — 10 of them in solitary confinement — from 1994–2008. His family stood by him and sent him books to read, wrote letters, and visited often. They also paid for college correspondence courses while he was incarcerated.
Martel did his undergrad at Mott Community College and UM Flint. By 2013 Martel was working as program associate with AFSC’s Michigan Criminal Justice Program. He guided prisoners through the steps needed to get out of prison and stay out, while encouraging them to use…
