James C. Thomas

Of Counsel

Licensed: 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

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
Recipient, Leonard Gilman Award, 2007, from the Federal Bar Association for outstanding practitioner of criminal law in the Eastern District of Michigan
The Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense, White-Collar Crime (Copyright 2006 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.)
2007 Michigan Super Lawyer in Criminal Defense and White Collar Crime, Michigan Super Lawyers, a publication of Law & Politics magazine
Defender of Justice Award, 2005, National Lawyers Guild
Justice for All Award, 2004,Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan
National Security Clearance to be allowed access to documents classified as “secret” by the United States Government

Education

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

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 corporate executives, politicians 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 defense, and he has successfully represented businesses, hospitals and professionals in such matters.

Mr. Thomas is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2007 Gilman Award presented by the Federal Bar Association, Michigan Chapter to outstanding practitioners in the area of criminal law. He has also received the “Defender of Justice Award” from the National Lawyers Guild and the “Justice for All Award” from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, an organization for which he currently serves as a member of its board of directors.

Representative Client Work

Veteran trial attorney in more than two hundred jury trials
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 attacks of September 11^th

Professional Affiliations

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

Publications and Lectures

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
Selected as CDAM faculty for a five day intensive criminal practice seminar, Trial Practice College at Cooley Law School, March 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