The local chapter of the Millions More Movement has called for the firing of Ms. Helen Nieuwenhuis from the Federal Public Defenders Office of Western Michigan. In a press release sent today to various news organizations, the Millions More Movement stated that Ms. Nieuwenhuis failed in her obligation to Mr. Eugene Atkins, and to the public as well. They also argue that she failed to uphold the oath she took to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States.
The group also released a letter written to Mr. Ray Kent, Director of the Federal Public Defenders Office of the Western District:
The Grand Rapids Local Organizing Committee of the Millions More Movement is extremely concerned with the representation that your office gave to Mr. Eugene Atkins in the U.S. Federal District Court of the Western District of Michigan. Your staff, in particular Ms. Helen Nieuwenhuis, was observed during the trial by many of our members. Suffice it to say that her performance may have been the worst by any lawyer we have ever witnessed. By our count Ms. Nieuwenhuis objected to only one action by the prosecutors in this case. Do you have an explanation as to why a defense attorney would only offer one objection to the prosecution in a case where the Defendant stands a chance to serve natural life in prison? Or, did Mr. Beckering perform the perfect trial?
The mission statement of your office states in part “We are dedicated to providing each client with a thorough, ethical and vigorous defense and protecting the rights guaranteed them by the Constitution and laws of the United States.” Ms. Niewenhuis however is a walking contradiction to this mission statement. She failed to protect the rights guaranteed to Mr. Atkins by the Constitution. As you know (since you are Chris Perrin’s attorney of record) Mr. Christopher Perrin pled guilty to a charge of misprision of a felony prior to Mr. Atkins’s trial. This plea necessitates the belief that Mr. Atkins was guilty of the crimes alleged prior to trial. Consequently, Mr. Atkins had been stripped of his presumption of innocence. This was not a technical error that Helen missed, this was a glaring one. Attorney’s here in Grand Rapids have informed us that this is a critical error for any attorney to make, and some intimate that this may have been done purposely.
Due to the aforementioned we request that Ms. Niewenhuis be removed from service in the Federal Public Defenders office for the Western District.
Please respond to this document as soon as possible. If you have any questions please contact us at 616-361-6310.
Yours truly,
Kenneth Muhammad
Co-Chair
Cc: Helen Nieuwenhuis
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