Grand Rapids

Sean R. Tilton was appointed Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Michigan by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on December 1, 2024. He is proud of the zealous client-centered representation provided by this office. Sean is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of San Francisco School of Law. He is a Past President of the West Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, a member of the Hillman Advocacy Program Steering Committee, other court committees, and active in community organizations.

First Assistant Defender Helen Nieuwenhuis is a 1988 graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School, which she attended after receiving her Bachelor of Science from Grand Valley State University. Before joining the Defender's Office in August of 2015, Helen Nieuwenhuis had been a trial and appellate lawyer practicing in Grand Rapids since 1988. Her practice was exclusively criminal defense, many times representing indigent defendants. She has tried many homicide cases, two resulting in acquittals. She has practiced in both the state and federal courts. She was designated a Level III appellate attorney by the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel. She served as the CJA Panel Representative for the Western District of Michigan from 2013 to August of 2015, and served on the Judge Selection Committee. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Federal Bar Association.

Marcus Miller joined the office in September 2025. Prior to joining the office, Marcus spent two years clerking for a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota and another year clerking for a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Marcus graduated cum laude from Havard Law School in 2022, where he represented incarcerated individuals in disciplinary hearings, undocumented individuals fighting deportation, and criminal defendants in federal and state court.

In his free time, Marcus coaches high school mock trial—and had the honor of head coaching the 2023 High School Mock Trial National champions.

Eric Fleddermann joined the office in 2025. Before becoming an assistant federal public defender, Eric clerked for a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, worked as a litigation associate at a large law firm, and clerked for a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Eric obtained his bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington D.C. and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

Jasna Tosic is a Research and Writing Specialist with the Federal Public Defender’s Office, where she has served since 2009. Jasna graduated at the top of her class from the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia, earning a degree in Literature and Serbo-Croatian Language. She graduated magna cum laude from Cooley Law School. From 2015 to 2025, Jasna served as a committee member on the Jury Instruction Committee, contributing to the development and refinement of federal jury instructions. She has also served on the Federal Bar Association and is a member of the Sixth Circuit Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel.

Pedro Celis serves as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Western District of Michigan. After graduating with honors from the University of Washington School of Law, he began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Ronald Cox at the Washington State Court of Appeals. He joined the office in 2016 as a Research and Writing Attorney and developed expertise in federal criminal defense, especially in Fourth Amendment law and the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Now as an Assistant Federal Public Defender, Mr. Celis continues to provide vigorous representation to clients who cannot afford counsel.

James Fisher joined the Federal Public Defender's office in 2018 and has been the Senior Litigator since 2025. Prior to joining the office, he was an Assistant Public Defender in Orlando, Florida where he practiced criminal defense for more than seven years. During that time, he tried over 40 jury trials to verdict. In 2017, he became a board-certified criminal trial lawyer, a Florida Bar certification that requires both peer review by judges, prosecutors, and colleagues, as well as an examination covering both state and federal law. Mr. Fisher has dedicated his career to indigent criminal defense and is dedicated to zealously defending the constitutional rights of his clients.

Mr. Fisher obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida, his master's degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and his law degree from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.

Carlos Clay is an Investigator for the Federal Public Defenders Office for the Western District of Michigan. Mr. Clay began his career in 1980 as an Intelligence Analyst specializing in psychological operations in the U.S. Army. In 1987 he joined the Michigan Department of Corrections as a Corrections Officer at the State Prison of Southern MIchigan in Jackson,Mi. He later attained the ranks of Corporal, Sargeant, Lieutenant and Acting Captain in the MDOC's Special Alternative Incarceration (SAI) or Boot Camp program. In 1995, Mr. Clay was promoted to the rank of Inspector at the Muskegon Correctional Facility. He served as the head of institutional security in charge of staff and inmate investigations, and performed numerous other functions related to investigations and security. Mr. Clay has received training through the MDOC, MSP, FBI, and private vendors.

Jacob Schmidt has served as an Investigator with the Federal Public Defender Office for the Western District of Michigan since 2021, where he supports defense attorneys by conducting detailed case investigations, interviewing witnesses, reviewing discovery materials, analyzing law enforcement reports, and assisting in trial preparation for clients facing federal charges. In this role, he works closely with attorneys to ensure that each client receives a thorough and constitutionally sound defense.

Mr. Schmidt earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University, where his academic studies focused on criminal law, investigative methods, ethics, and the structure of the criminal justice system.

Prior to joining the Federal Public Defender Office, Mr. Schmidt served as a law enforcement officer, gaining firsthand experience in criminal investigations, evidence collection, report writing, and courtroom testimony. This background affords him a comprehensive understanding of investigative procedures and law enforcement practices, which enhances his ability to critically assess government evidence and identify investigative gaps.

Mr. Hearns joined the Federal Defender’s office in 2022. Mr. Hearns completed his undergraduate work in Psychology and Spanish where he graduated with honors. Mr. Hearns further obtained a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Mr. Hearns is a Nationally Certified Counselor and is licensed to offer counseling services in the State of Michigan. Before his tenure at the Defender’s office, Mr. Hearns worked as a program Supervisor in the adolescent residential program at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. He later served as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist as well as a Substance Abuse Counselor in the Greater Grand Rapids area where his primary focus was Spanish-speaking families and children. Finally, Mr. Hearns served adults who suffered from addictions and addictive personality disorders in rehabilitation centers helping them understand the nature of their addictions and work to overcome them.

Erica Nelson is a Paralegal in the Grand Rapids office of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Michigan. She is a graduate of Northern Michigan University with a degree in Political Science/Pre-Law. She has worked on many diverse fronts and levels in the legal system for over 30 years. Her extensive experience and familiarity in working with the judiciary, court staff, federal defender staff, and panel attorneys on matters, including automated litigation support training, are particularly beneficial for assisting attorneys on cases involving indigent clients charged in federal court.

Julia Weir is a Paralegal for the Federal Public Defender Grand Rapids Office for the Western District of Michigan. She joined the office in 2010.

Mrs. Weir obtained a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science Pre-Law from Michigan State University.

She is also licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan. Mrs. Weir has worked in various areas of the law at both the federal and state level including criminal law, contract law, family law, estate planning, and domestic relations mediation.

Emily Seale joined the Federal Public Defender’s Office in 2015 as a Paralegal. Emily obtained a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society/Pre-Law from Winona State University. Emily is also licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan. Prior to joining the office, Emily assisted CJA panel attorneys with federal criminal cases in the Western District of Michigan.

Melissa Rabidoux has been the Administrative Officer for the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Michigan for over twenty years. She was a member of the Administrative Management Expert Panel, an expert panel under the Defender Servies Office from 2006 – 2010 and was Chair of that panel from 2010 – 2011. She has been the Administrator for the West Michigan Federal Court Association since 2018 and has been one of the Hillman Trial Advocacy Program Coordinators since 2020.

Ms. Rabidoux obtained her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Saginaw Valley State University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University.

Doaa Al-Howaishy serves as the Western District of Michigan’s Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Coordinating Attorney. She oversees the administration and management of the District’s CJA Panel attorney program. She works closely with the CJA Panel, CJA Panel Administrator, the United States District Court, Defender Services Office, and the Federal Public Defender to ensure high quality criminal defense representation, assist in efficient management of CJA resources, and provide support for CJA Panel attorneys.

Prior to joining the Office, Doaa was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Violent Crimes Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, a homicide prosecutor at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Detroit, and an Associate Attorney at Butzel.

Sonja Cubillo is the CJA Panel Administrator for the Federal Public Defender's Office for the Western District of Michigan.

Prior to her employment with the Federal Defender's Office, Sonja worked for the United States Attorney's Office. She has served as a coordinator for the Hillman Trial Advocacy Program since 2022.

Sonja graduated from Aquinas College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish and pursued a master’s degree in public administration.

Michele Holstege is a Administrative Assistant with the Federal Public Defender's Office for the Western District of Michigan. Prior to her employment with the Federal Defender's Office, Michele was the Legal Assistant for Nieuwenhuis Law Offices, PC, and Deno Fotieo. Michele obtained her Associates Degree in Business, with a focus on Legal Administration, from Baker College of Muskegon, and has worked in the legal field since 1995.

Monica Sisson is the Secretary to the Defender for the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Michigan. She came to this office from the U.S. District Court Clerk’s Office where she spent seven years as a docket clerk. She has worked at the Defenders Office since 1999.

Bradley Grove has served as the Computer Systems Administrator for the Federal Public Defender Office of the Western District of Michigan since August 2022. Prior to this role, he built an extensive background in the private sector, working as a Network Administrator and Senior Technical Analyst for a software company beginning in 1998.

Mr. Grove holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Wayne State University.