15 Ionia, Suite 520
Super Lawyer for Criminal Law
Michael R. Bartish is a founding member of Springstead Bartish & Borgula Law, P.L.L.C. He regularly defends and represents clients in state and federal courts throughout West Michigan. Mr. Bartish is a former active-duty Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Army where he served at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1999 through 2002. During his active duty service, Mr. Bartish served as a trial counsel and senior trial counsel for the First Cavalry Division and as a Trial Defense Counsel for Fort Hood, Texas.
After four years on active duty, Mr. Bartish went into private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan, beginning his civilian career at Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge. In 2005, Mr. Bartish joined the prestigious criminal defense firm Willey & Chamberlain, LLP as an associate. Mr. Bartish left Willey & Chamberlain in June 2011 to join Mr. Springstead and form Springstead Bartish & Borgula Law, P.L.L.C..
One of the leading Grand Rapids criminal lawyers, Mr. Bartish splits his criminal defense practice fairly evenly between federal criminal cases in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and state criminal cases in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.
Respected Federal Court Representation
In federal court, Mr. Bartish has represented people charged with a variety of crimes including:
- Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Murder for Hire
- Kidnapping and Kidnapping Resulting in Death
- Bank, Wire, and Mail Fraud
- Armed Bank and Credit Union Robbery
- Drug Conspiracies
- Embezzlement
- Federal Gun and Explosives Offenses
- Identity Theft
- Production and Distribution of Child Pornography
- Internet Crimes
- Sex Crimes and Sex Offender Registry Act Violations
- Immigration Violations
- Bribery
- Ponzi Scheme Allegations
- Tax Fraud
Mr. Bartish has won not guilty verdicts for clients charged with felonies in federal court. Mr. Bartish has also had success in securing sentences significantly below the advisory guideline range, suppressing evidence, obtaining diversionary disposition for clients, and winning reversals from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Incisive State Court Criminal Defense Representation
In state court, Mr. Bartish handles all serious felonies and misdemeanors. Mr. Bartish has won not guilty verdicts in numerous cases in jurisdictions throughout Western Michigan. Mr. Bartish also practices extensively before the Michigan Department of State Drivers License Appeal Division where he has secured the return of driving privileges for clients both within and outside the state of Michigan.
In 2014, Mr. Bartish earned the prestigious distinction of being named a “Super Lawyer for Criminal Law,” a honor bestowed on less than 5% of the attorneys in the State of Michigan. Prior to 2014, Mr. Bartish was named to the Super Lawyers Rising Star Lists. The Rising Stars list showcases outstanding lawyers younger than 40 in the state; only 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Michigan are selected for inclusion each year. The selections for Super Lawyers are made by Law & Politics, a division of Key Professional Media, Inc. Each year, Law & Politics undertakes a rigorous, multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by Law & Politics’ attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Federal Criminal Defense
- State Criminal Defense
- Drivers License Appeals
- Military/UCMJ Defense
- Civil Litigation
- Child Protective Services Defense
- Professional Malpractice Defense
EDUCATION
- University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D., 1998 (with honors)
- University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1995 (cum laude)
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
- Super Lawyer for Criminal Law, Super Lawyers Magazine
- AVVO Ranking – 10.0 “Superb”; Client’s Choice Award
BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS
- State Bar of Michigan
- State Bar of Ohio (inactive)
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
MILITARY SERVICE AND EDUCATION
- Major, U.S. Army Reserves
- U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Basic Course, 1999
- Active Duty Judge Advocate General, Fort Hood, Texas, 1999—2002
- Trial Counsel, 1st Cavalry Division, 1999—2000
- Senior Trial Counsel, 1st Cavalry Division, 2000—2001
- Trial Defense Counsel, Fort Hood, Texas, 2001—2002
- U.S Army Reserves Trial Defense Counsel, 154th Legal Services Organization, 2002—2006
- U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Advance Course, 2007
- U.S. Army Reserves Senior Defense Counsel, 154th Legal Services Organization, 2006—2011
- U.S. Army Reserves Senior Defense Counsel, 16th Legal Services Organization, 2011—present
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Board Member
- State Bar of Michigan, Criminal Law Section
- National College of DUI Defense (NCDD)
- Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys (MIOWIA)
