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Michelle Rachel Yard
Badges
Claimed Lawyer Profile
Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Appeals & Appellate
- Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Florida
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- University of Florida
- J.D.
Awards
- Joseph W. Durocher "Foot Soldier of the Constitution"
- Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- The Joe Durocher Award is given annually to a criminal defense attorney who exemplifies the actions of a true criminal defense lawyer. They fight for their client’s rights, as well as improving the Criminal Justice system as a whole.
Professional Associations
- Florida State Bar  # 14085
- Member
- - Current
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- Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Vice President, 2020-2021; Media Liaison, 2020-2021
- - Current
- Activities: Membership Committee (2020-2021); Board Member (2019-2020); Legislative Committee (2019-2020); Speedy Trial Committee (2019-2020); Marsy's Law Committee (2018-2019)
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- ACLU
- Board Member, Central Florida Chapter
- -
- Activities: Organized a live candidate forum on behalf of ACLU of Central Florida and Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (CFACDL). We also partnered with League of Women Voters for Orange County. I gave the intro for ACLU and CFACDL. All four democratic candidates for State Attorney participated. Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel moderated the two hour forum with pre-selected questions. The June 11, 2020 event reached over 11,000 views. https://www.facebook.com/cfacdl/videos/29596
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Speaking Engagements
- Shon Hopwood's Journey: Prison Inmate to Georgetown Law Professor, CFACDL Monthly Seminar, Zoom (Orlando, Florida)
- Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- This session will introduce Professor and Attorney Shon Hopwood. He will discuss his remarkable and unusual journey beginning with a twelve-year prison sentence, through drafting and getting two certiorari petitions granted by the Supreme Court while in prison, through becoming a successful lawyer published in numerous prestigious law reviews. The session will conclude with a 35 minute Q&A on topics from appellate advice to prison reform, moderated by Michelle Yard.
- Securing Freedom under Graham and Miller, CFACDL CLE Luncheon, Sorosis Club, Orlando, FL
- Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- This training presented the stories of five men sentenced to life-in-prison without parole as children in Orange County, Florida and their journeys from entering prison as children through obtaining their freedom today under Graham v. Florida and Miller v. Alabama. I presented along with the five men that I fought for years to free.
- First Step Success: Freedom After 26 Years, 2019 Annual Middle District Federal Training Conference, Art Ovation Hotel, Sarasota, Florida
- Federal Public Defender
- This session presents a historical perspective of the crack-to-powder sentencing disparities over the last 30 years and the interplay of its slow, but ultimately successful legislative reform, culminating in the FSA, as it pertains to one new releasee, formerly imprisoned for life.
- Sentencing Reform—Success Under the First Step Act, Winning Strategies, Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
- Defender Services
- Mass incarceration has plagued many prisoners and their families. For decades, the crack-to-powder sentencing disparity resulted in unfair and unwarranted sentencing disparity. Although modest in many respects, the First Step Act is bringing hope and reduced sentences to many prisoners. This session explores the sentencing reformation of the last 30 years and and details the successful release of one prisoner under the First Step Act.
- "Lunch and Learn", UCF Campus, Orlando, Florida
- Center for Law and Policy, Department of Legal Studies, University of Central Florida
- This seminar, attended by undergraduate and graduate students, explored state and federal criminal law in practice, and associated career paths.
Certifications
- Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney
- The Florida Bar
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