James C. Thomas

Of Counsel

Licensed Since: 1974
Joined Firm: 2006

Buhl Building
535 Griswold St., Suite 2400
Detroit, MI 48226

TEL: (313) 983-4440
FAX: (313) 983-4350

jthomas@plunkettcooney.com

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Areas of Practice

Honors & Awards

The Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense, White-Collar Crime (Copyright 2010 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.), 2007-2011
Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating-AV. AV is a registered certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.
Michigan Super Lawyer in Criminal Defense and White Collar Crime, Michigan Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication, 2006-2011
Federal Bar Association, Leonard Gilman Award (for outstanding practitioner of criminal law in the Eastern District of Michigan), 2007
National Lawyers Guild, Defender of Justice Award, 2005
Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Justice for All Award, 2004
National Security Clearance to be allowed access to documents classified as “secret” by the United States Government
American Trial Lawyer Association’s Top 100 Lawyers in Michigan, 2008-Present
Arab American Chamber of Commerce Professional of the Year Award, 2008

Education

Michigan State University Detroit College of Law, J.D., 1974
Wayne State University, B.S., 1969

Bar & Court Admissions

Michigan, 1974
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1974
Michigan Supreme Court, 1974
U.S. Courts of Appeal, Third, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Circuits
U.S. Supreme Court, 1980

James C. Thomas is a well-respected criminal defense attorney who joined Plunkett Cooney as an Of Counsel attorney in the firm’s Detroit office in 2006.

During his more than 30 years practicing criminal defense in complex federal and state matters, Mr. Thomas has successfully defended clients in some of Michigan’s highest profile criminal cases, including healthcare professionals, politicians, corporate executives and professional athletes. He has tried a broad range of significant criminal matters in both federal and state courts. His practice is focused on white-collar criminal and complex criminal defense. In addition, he is well versed in all aspects of the defense of cyber crimes, computer crimes and crimes involving electronic communications.

Mr. Thomas is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2008 American-Arab Chamber of Commerce Professional of the Year Award and the 2007 Gilman Award presented by the Federal Bar Association, Michigan Chapter to the outstanding practitioner in the area of criminal law. For his work in the Detroit terrorism trial in 2003, he received the “Defender of Justice Award” from the National Lawyers Guild. Mr.Thomas also received the “Justice for All Award” from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan.

Representative Client Work

Veteran trial attorney in more than two hundred jury trials throughout the country in both state and federal courts
Acquittal of client in a noteworthy federal case involving Young Boys, Inc.
Acquittal of police officer in major Detroit Police Corruption Case
Acquittal of client in first federal trial of terrorism suspects following the unfortunate attacks of September 11, 2001
Acquittal of physician charged federally with conspiracy with the Mexican Cartel

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
American Trial Lawyers Association
American Board of Criminal Lawyers (Fellowship; President, 2006)
American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellowship)
Arab American Bar Association
Attorney Discipline Board (Chairman, Panel No. 23)
State Bar of Michigan (Criminal Law and Criminal Jurisprudence Committees, 1989-1993)
Federal Bar Association (Eastern District of Michigan)
Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM) (Board of Directors, 2004 to present)
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Publications and Lectures

In addition to being a regular instructor at the CDAM Conferences and a faculty member of the CDAM Trial College, an intensive five day training program for seasoned trial attorneys at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, he lecturers regularly by invitation at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University and University of Detroit Law Schools.
"Sex, Lies and Text Messages," York University, Toronto, Osgood Hall, 2009
"Serbian Adoption of Federal Laws in Sentencing," Justice Department, Belgrade, Serbia, 2008
2007 Plunkett Cooney Nursing Home Seminar and Mock Trial, lecturer, Troy Marriott Hotel, June 14, 2007
“Case Themes and Motion Practice,” Advanced Criminal Practice, CDAM Fall Seminar, Traverse City, November 2004
“Forfeiture Nuts and Bolts: Current Litigation for the Defense,” Advanced Criminal Practice, CDAM Fall Seminar, Traverse City, November 2001
“Handling the Narcotics Case,” Criminal Advocacy Program (CAP), Wayne County Recorders Court Bar Association, October 2001
“The Commerce Clause and Relevant Issues in Criminal Advocacy,” Advanced Criminal Practice, CDAM Spring Seminar, Southfield, March 2001
“Civil Forfeiture Reform Statute (CAFRA) or As It’s Affectionately Known, the Hyde Amendment,” Federal Bar Association, U.S. Courthouse Detroit, September 2000
“Federal Forfeiture and Disgorgement of Attorneys Fees,” Federal Bar Association, U.S. Courthouse Detroit, March 1999
“Civil Forfeiture From a Claimant’s Perspective,” Federal Bar Association Seminar, U.S. Courthouse Detroit, March 1998
“Trial Practice Techniques,” Advanced Criminal Practice, CDAM Fall Seminar, Traverse City, November 1997
“Alteration of Patient Records,” Current Criminal Issues for Health Care Risk Managers, Michigan Society of Healthcare and Risk Management, March 1996
“Forfeitures: Fascist or Fair,” Michigan State Bar Annual Meeting, Criminal Law Section Symposium, September 1996
“Current Issues in Forfeiture and Double Jeopardy,” Advanced Criminal Practice, CDAM Fall Seminar, Traverse City, November 1995
“Double Trouble: Consequences of State Criminal Convictions in Federal Court Prosecutions,” Criminal Advocacy Program (CAP), Wayne County, Recorders Court Bar Association, November 1993
“Issues in Forfeiture: The Good News,” Advanced Criminal Practice, CDAM Fall Seminar, Traverse City, November 1993
“Jury Selection and Voir Dire in Federal Courts Post Batson,” Federal Bar Association Seminar, U.S. Courthouse Detroit, May 1993
“Proportionality of Sentences in Michigan,” Advanced Criminal Practice, CDAM Spring Seminar, Southfield, April 1993
“Advanced Criminal Practice - Examination of Police Witnesses,” CDAM Spring Seminar, Southfield, April 1992
“Sentencing Options in Michigan - Downward Departures,” Criminal Advocacy Program (CAP), Wayne County Recorders Court Bar Association, March 1991