He has litigated in the Michigan Supreme Court on behalf of the ACLU, the League of Women Voters, and the American Association of University Women. They include a range of issues all focused on more restorative methods of justice, while also addressing the systemic discrimination within criminal justice. [1], After graduating from law school, Savit worked as a law clerk for Judge Carlos T. Bea on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and for Judge David S. Tatel on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Eli started his career as a public school teacher, teaching special-education and general-education 8th grade American history. Savit is also a lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School. In addition to serving as Washtenaw County's Prosecuting Attorney, Eli is a faculty member at the University of Michigan Law School. [34] Savit's platform included elimination of cash bail, more support for addiction and mental-health treatment programs, and eliminating racial and socioeconomic inequity in the justice system. After being sworn in at the turn of the new year Eli Savit got straight to work, bringing forward ten policy directives in the past few weeks. "[51] Under Savit's policy, prosecutors make individualized recommendations regarding pre-trial release based on the facts of each case, but do not consider a person's wealth when making that recommendation. [53] Savit cited research demonstrating that prosecution of buprenorphine leads people in recovery to "backslide" and use more dangerous drugs like fentanyl and heroin. - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about. He worked with the ACLU and community partners to craft a program that saved thousands of Detroit residents from home foreclosures. "It's my first time running, and I needed to get out there in the community," he explains. [43] On November 3, 2020, Savit won the general election,[44] netting 159,998 votes (98.78%), the most votes of any candidate on the ballot in Washtenaw County. Eli Savit is committed to a prosecutor’s office built on justice for all. Savit's platform included elimination of cash bail, more support for addiction and mental-health treatment programs, and eliminating racial and socioeconomic inequity in the justice system. Eli Savit, the Democratic candidate for Washtenaw County Prosecutor, met with students at the Ford School of Public Policy Sunday afternoon to discuss his campaign and ways students can get involved. He spearheaded the City’s efforts to make it easier for people to expunge criminal records. Eli has dedicated this career to public service. And he led a team of lawyers, statisticians, and trauma-informed professionals to craft city and state policies that will reduce the prison population, and promote rehabilitation and workforce-development for returning citizens. Circuit. Eli Savit is listed in the Progressive Voters Guide below. [10][11], In addition to his litigation work, Savit oversaw multiple legal matters for the City of Detroit. Eli Savit is an attorney, a law professor, and a former public school teacher. Eli Savit, University of Michigan Law School alum, was sworn in Saturday afternoon by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack as the new Washtenaw County prosecutor. After law school, Eli worked for two federal judges, then as an appellate and Supreme Court lawyer. A former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Eli currently serves as the City of Detroit’s senior legal counsel, where he leads criminal-justice reform work for Michigan’s largest city. [13][14] In 2018, he crafted an agreement with the ACLU and community partners to prevent home foreclosures throughout Detroit. On the Issues . SPOTLIGHT SUNDAY! Chief Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Burton-Harris. Savit, who spent Wednesday campaigning at Black Lives Matter rallies across Ann Arbor, acknowledged the need to work with police to acquire information, … Savit attended Kalamazoo College, and was chosen as the senior class commencement speaker. He formally served as a law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was a civil-rights and public-interest attorney, and started his career as a public-school teacher. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has endorsed Eli Savit for Washtenaw County prosecutor, his campaign announced Thursday. [19] His academic work has been published in, among other journals, the Michigan Law Review[20] and the Michigan Journal of Law Reform. Eli Savit, who is running with national backing that includes endorsements from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and singer John Legend, is leading the way … [55] The move was praised by national advocates as a "win for marginalized people" and trafficked persons. At the City of Detroit, Eli was also a steadfast fighter for criminal-justice reform. Friday is the first day on the job for new county prosecutor Eli Savit. And so, every Sunday, we're spotlighting one of our amazing interns who's working to build a fairer, more equitable justice system. He secured millions of dollars in funding for trauma-informed wraparound services for Detroit schoolchildren. There are no Republican candidates on the ballot for Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney, so the winner of the Democratic primary on Aug. 4, will replace longtime incumbent Brian Mackie, who was first elected as prosecutor in … [29] He is also a frequent contributor to the legal blog Take Care, where he primarily writes about environmental issues. “I know that it seems as though we released a … Eli has dedicated this career to public service. Keep up to date with Eli's campaign . He ran for Washtenaw County Prosecutor to ensure equitable justice for all Washtenaw County residents and he is humbled by the faith and trust that the voters of Washtenaw County have placed in him. He sued banks, slumlords, and corporations whose housing policies were hurting Detroit residents. “I didn't get into this race by myself,” Savit said. Cook owns a sports website, MGoBlog. Name * First Name. [46], In the fall of 2020, Savit announced that the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office office would no longer prosecute the use or possession of psychedelic mushrooms or other entheogenic plants. Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Friday that the county will be charging crimes against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity as hate crimes. Savit discussed how his campaign started over a year ago as a collaborative effort with local activists. With all precincts counted, … Instead, he returned home to Michigan, settling in Ann Arbor and accepting an appointment as the City of Detroit’s senior legal counsel. In his academic capacity, he has published scholarly articles on topics such as state and local government, educational equity, campaign-finance reform, and environmental law. Most recently, Eli served as the City of Detroit’s senior legal counsel, where he led criminal-justice reform work for Michigan’s largest city. Eli Savit is the elected Prosecutor for Washtenaw County and will serve the citizens of Washtenaw County for a 4 year term, beginning January 1, 2021. His work has also been published in popular publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, Slate, The Hill, and MLive.com. [42] On August 4, 2020, Savit won the Democratic primary for Washtenaw County Prosecutor, netting 41,673 votes (51%) compared to 35,380 (43%) for Slay and 5,504 (7%) for Mack. Eli Savit is a civil-rights attorney, a law professor, and a former public-school teacher. His policy is the latest victory for advocates nationwide who are working to eliminate financial conditions for pretrial release. [47] Savit's announcement came on the heels of a City Council resolution in Ann Arbor—Washtenaw County's largest city—that deemed possession, use, and cultivation of entheogenic plants Ann Arbor's "lowest law enforcement priority". He is a proud union member, as part of the Lecturers’ Employee Organization (American Federation of Teachers-Michigan Local 6244). [21] Savit has authored pieces in multiple popular publications, including the New York Times,[22][23] the Detroit News,[24][25][26] Slate,[27] The Hill,[28] and MLive. Learn how Eli will build a prosecutor’s office in which Washtenaw residents can take pride. [18], Savit maintains an appointment at the University of Michigan Law School, where he teaches classes on public-interest litigation and state and local government. Savit was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Representative matters on which he has worked include a successful legal effort to have the Michigan Civil Rights Commission recognize discrimination claims against LGBTQ Michiganders, and assisting the States  of New Jersey and Maryland and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in their efforts to hold corporate polluters responsible for PFAS and MTBE contamination in the state’s waterways. "I thought I was challenging a twenty-eight-year incumbent." “I started my campaign sitting around the table sitting with activists around the community. Eli Savit is an American lawyer, law professor, and politician. He served as the City’s liaison to Michigan’s statewide task force on jail and pretrial incarceration. His campaign began as a collaborative effort with local activists and promised reforms for the cash bail system and support for specialized courts that promote rehabilitation and prioritize mental health issues. Eli was then selected to work as a law clerk for United States Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor (ret.). [46] Burton-Harris ran for Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney in the August 2020 Democratic primary against long-time incumbent prosecutor Kym Worthy. “I pledged during the campaign that we would not be seeking cash bail, and I’m proud to make good on that promise today,” Savit said in a statement. "[52] The next day, Savit announced that the Prosecutor's Office would no longer charge the unauthorized use or possession of buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid use disorder. Ann Arbor attorney Eli Savit, who has worked as Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s senior legal counsel since 2016, has launched a campaign for Washtenaw County prosecutor, looking to … [12] Among other things, he led the negotiating team that, in 2017, struck a $48 million community benefits agreement with the Canadian government related to the Gordie Howe International Bridge, to be spent on job training, health monitoring, and environmental remediation in Southwest Detroit. His areas of expertise include civil rights, education law, environmental protection, state and local government, and criminal-justice reform. He served as lead counsel for the City in Gary B. v. Snyder, a successful lawsuit which sought to establish that Detroit schoolchildren have been denied their fundamental right to literacy. [54], On January 14, 2021, Savit announced that his office would no longer prosecute consensual sex work, instead focusing on human trafficking, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation of children. Prior to his election as Prosecuting Attorney, Savit served as senior legal counsel in the office of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, and as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Michigan Democratic Party, and on the Executive Board of the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. He led the City’s efforts to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable for the opioid epidemic. This campaign is powered by its people. Senator Jeff Irwin’s step-mother accepted a campaign donation from the local man. He graduated from Kalamazoo College, where he played college basketball and was voted senior class commencement speaker. [2] He then worked as a litigator at Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C., before being selected to work as a law clerk on the United States Supreme Court for Justices Sandra Day O'Connor (ret.) New Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Monday that his office has eliminated the use of cash bail, making the county the first jurisdiction in Michigan to do so. [51] The announcement of the policy made Washtenaw County the first prosecutor's office in Michigan not to rely on cash bail. During his campaign, Savit promised to end cash bail, eliminate zero-tolerance policies and put rehabilitation ahead of incarceration. A Washtenaw County native, Savit grew up in Ann Arbor and graduated from Pioneer High School in 2001. Eli Savit: Washtenaw County, Michigan. [4] In that capacity, Savit oversaw thousands of public-interest lawsuits against banks and for-profit corporations, including suits against tax-delinquent corporate landlords and against the opioid industry. She is Washtenaw County's first female Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. [36] Savit's campaign attracted national attention,[37][38][39][40] and he secured endorsements from such high-profile national figures as Senator Bernie Sanders[41] and musician and activist John Legend. ", "The New Front in the Clean Air Wars: Fossil-Fuel Influence Over State Attorneys General- and How It Might Be Checked | Michigan Law Review", "Opinion | Michigan's Discriminatory Work Requirements", "Opinion | Detroit's Schools Are Unconstitutionally Unequal (Published 2019)", "Other views on Michigan Supreme Court gun decision", "Opinion: Fast-track release of lifers sentenced as children", "Why Detroit schools are crumbling - look at state's funding foundation", "ACLU urges State Supreme Court to reject the legislature's attempt to undermine voters", "MI Civil Rights Commission Takes Action on Anti-LGBT Discrimination", "Reformist candidate launches campaign for Washtenaw County prosecutor", "Longtime Washtenaw prosecutor Brian Mackie says 'it is time' to retire", "A Pivotal Race for Prosecuting Attorney - Three very different candidates promise to transform the criminal justice system", "Reformist candidate Eli Savit wins closely watched Washtenaw County prosecutor race", "Progressives Score New Wins in Prosecutor Elections, Adding to the Movement's Breadth", "Portland, Oregon's Seismic DA Result Demands Our Attention", "The "Progressive Prosecutor" Movement Spreads, But Unevenly", "Bernie Sanders endorses Eli Savit for Washtenaw County prosecutor", "John Legend endorses Eli Savit for Washtenaw County prosecutor", "Eli Savit Prepping For Major Reforms In Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office", "Advocates of overhauling criminal justice cheer multiple election victories", "Official Election Results: Washtenaw County, Michigan, Nov. 3, 2020", "Washtenaw County prosecutor-elect names first female assistant chief", "Michigan Prosecutor Won't Pursue Psychedelics Possession Cases Following Local Decriminalization Vote", "Ann Arbor decriminalizes magic mushrooms, psychedelic plants", "Savit sworn in as Washtenaw County prosecutor, begins work to reshape justice system", "Sex Work and Magic Mushrooms Won't Be Prosecuted Anymore in This Michigan County", "New Washtenaw County prosecutor will stop seeking cash bail", "Washtenaw prosecutor won't charge people for marijuana, shrooms, other psychedelics", "Washtenaw prosecutor won't charge people for unauthorized use of opioid-addiction drug", "Buprenorphine Policy | Washtenaw County, MI", "Washtenaw County will no longer prosecute consensual sex work", "Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit launches transparency project with U-M, ACLU", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eli_Savit&oldid=1010784338, University of Michigan Law School faculty, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 March 2021, at 09:15. Eli Savit, a candidate for Washtenaw County Prosecutor, speaks outside the Washtenaw County Circuit Court, 101 E. Huron St. in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. [5] [6][7] Savit also led the City's legal efforts in civil-rights cases. He is currently serving as the Prosecuting Attorney in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Savit ran an atypical campaign, with no previous experience as a prosecutor, assembling a team of local advocates to advise him. [51], On January 12, 2021, Savit also announced that the Prosecutor's Office would no longer seek charges related to the use, possession, or small-scale distribution of marijuana or entheogenic plants, citing the racially disproportionate impact of the "war on drugs. During his time with the City of Detroit, Eli earned a reputation as a fighter who is unafraid to take on powerful interests. Savit won a three-way primary in August, before running unopposed in November’s general election. (Eli Savit) ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit has made his mark in his first 21 days in office. The Michigan Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about races on your ballot, based on your values. He then returned home to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan Law School. Eli has also been an integral part of several major, successful civil rights and environmental initiatives in Michigan and across the country. [48], Savit was sworn into office on January 2, 2021. Throughout his career in public service, Eli has witnessed first-hand the cascading consequences of a broken criminal-justice system. Savit posted on Twitter that he was thrilled. [55] Savit cited research demonstrating that the threat of prosecution makes sex workers and survivors of trafficking less likely to report crimes. [30], In addition to his work for the City of Detroit, Savit has been a practicing environmental lawyer, representing the States of New Jersey and Maryland and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in lawsuits against companies such as Exxon and Shell. Since being sworn in on Jan. 1, he has introduced a … Victoria Burton-Harris, Savit’s chief assistant, was also sworn in at the ceremony, which was held in the University’s Law Quadrangle. "The truth of the matter is I didn't make the decision to run for prosecutor by myself," Savit says. Savit is a civil rights lawyer who built his career and campaign on public safety and treating people fairly. Savit’s run for office was fueled by his experiences observing racial and socioeconomic inequities present in the justice system. Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about. [54] He also noted that opioid overdose deaths fell by 50% when the prosecutor in Chittenden County, Vermont enacted a similar policy. And he led the City’s landmark legal efforts to establish that all children have a constitutional right to learn how to read and write. [34][4][11], Less than two weeks after Savit announced his candidacy, 28-year incumbent prosecutor Brian Mackie announced his retirement. [37], Savit faced no Republican opposition in the November general election. Eli continues to teach at the University of Michigan as a Lecturer. In a closely watched race, Democratic candidate Eli Savit won the race for Washtenaw County prosecutor on Tuesday, receiving 52 percent of the vote, while his Democratic challengers Arianne Slay and Hugo Mack received just 43 percent and 7 percent, respectively. ", "MLaw alum earns coveted Supreme Court clerkship", "In Conversation: Eli Savit, candidate for Washtenaw County Prosecutor", "Detroit suits seek $30 million in unpaid property taxes", "Detroit suing 700 property investors for unpaid taxes", "Michigan law shielding drug makers draws scrutiny amid opioid crisis", "Detroit backs DPS students in literacy fight", "In Detroit, a battle over the right to literacy", "Inside the Detroit right-to-read case: How a settlement came together and a groundbreaking precedent fell apart", "Ypsi Votes: Eli Savit's campaign for prosecutor focuses on large structural reforms", "Savit, Eli - University of Michigan Law School", "Detroit church in path of Gordie Howe Bridge will be demolished, leaving only memories", "Detroit council OKs protections for those near bridge", "Foreclosures to be sold back to owners in ACLU, city settlement", "ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund Settle Tax Foreclosure Case, Enabling Low-Income Detroiters in Foreclosure to Keep Their Homes for $1,000", "Distressed Detroit Homeowners Settle Tax-Foreclosure Lawsuit", "Federal funding for child care in Michigan: How should the unexpected $63 million be used? [3], Following his Supreme Court clerkship, Savit returned to Michigan, and accepted an appointment as senior legal counsel in the Detroit Mayor's Office. Four other DA candidates endorsed by Sanders were Eli Savit of Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor), Michigan; Alonzo Payne and Amy Padden in Colorado; and José Garza in Austin, Texas. [33], In May 2019, Savit announced his candidacy for Washtenaw County prosecutor as a Democrat, vowing to "end the era of mass incarceration". [57], American lawyer, law professor, and politician, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. County Prosecutor candidate Eli Savit Tweeted (image) his excitement and enthusiasm about the endorsement of a man named Brian Cook. In private practice, he dedicated significant time to pro bono matters—representing children with disabilities, victims of consumer fraud, and asylum applicants fleeing domestic violence and spousal abuse. [49] During his first several weeks in office, Savit announced several major policy changes in the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office that garnered national attention. A Washtenaw County native, Eli grew up in Ann Arbor and graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School (where he captained the basketball team). and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Eli also earned a reputation as a staunch advocate for children and families. On paper, a candidate friendly to criminal justice reform may seem par for the course in this left-leaning jurisdiction that includes Ann Arbor, but Savit insists that a “tough on crime” mentality has reigned in the prosecutor’s office, fueling racial inequalities. In May 2019, Savit announced his candidacy for Washtenaw County prosecutor as a Democrat, vowing to "end the era of mass incarceration". Savit… [35] Savit was endorsed by multiple elected officials and community leaders, including former Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed, State Senator Jeff Irwin, and three previous chairs of the Michigan Democratic Party. [51] Savit said that "whether someone is jailed should hinge on the threat they pose to the community, not their financial means. Following his time at the Supreme Court, Eli turned down lucrative opportunities with major D.C. law firms. Eli Savit, thirty-seven, announced his candidacy more than a year ago, in May 2019. [32] He also presented testimony to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission in support of Equality Michigan's successful effort to have the Commission declare that Michigan's civil rights law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. During his campaign, Savit promised to end cash bail, eliminate zero-tolerance policies and put rehabilitation ahead of incarceration. Today’s spotlight is Aakarsh Verma! Find our feature story on Hugo Mack here, and Eli Savit here.
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