People of Michigan v. Micheline Nicole Leffew

Summary

The Michigan Supreme Court held that defense of others was available as a common-law justification for the defendants' home-invasion charges and that both attorneys performed deficiently by failing to request an instruction supporting the defense. The omission prejudiced Micheline because the existing instructions did not explain the legal significance of her claimed justification, and prejudiced Jeremiah because the instructions provided no avenue for acquittal despite his concession of the charged conduct. The Court reversed the Court of Appeals and remanded for a new trial.