Features Patrick Sullivan

Perhaps no one represents the promise and potential pitfalls of veteran’s court like Tyler O’Neil, a Coast Guard veteran who in April was the first to graduate from the program.

The special track in the 86th District Court, set up to deal with veterans facing charges, was launched about a year ago and it has seen its share of ups and downs, and at first O’Neil seemed like one of the ups...

Features Patrick Sullivan The older one is taking vocational training and doing well. He is making all of his therapy sessions and when he meets with his probation officer, he brings proof that he’s completed his required drug and alcohol testing and has been to the AA meetings he’s supposed to attend.

Features Patrick Sullivan

Blue and orange-clad Pugsley Correctional Facility inmates were once a rare sight inside the circuit courtroom in Traverse City. Defense attorney Paul Jarboe, who started practicing law in 1982 and who handles retained cases and is on the court’s roster for indigent defendants, said over the years he rarely saw the inmates in court.