Ronald J. Bretz

Professor Bretz was an assistant defender with the State Appellate Defender Office for 20 years before joining the Cooley Law School faculty in 1996. He became well-established as an expert in the use of serology and DNA scientific evidence. Professor Bretz published and lectured extensively in this area, and he has consulted with attorneys and scientists across the country.

Professor Bretz briefed, argued, and won a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. He won an award from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan for that work.

He has been a member of seminar faculties for the Kent County and Detroit bar associations, the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, the Defender Training Institute, the Appellate Assigned Counsel System, the State Bar of Michigan Criminal Law Section, the Michigan Judicial Institute, and the Michigan Judges Association.

He is a member of the Cooley Legal Authors Society, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, and the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan. Professor Bretz has also served as a board member of Legal Aid of Central Michigan and was a member of the Michigan Standard Criminal Jury Instructions Committee.

Professor Bretz served as the chair of the Criminal Law and Procedure Department, and taught Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, Evidence, Forensic Evidence, Appellate Practice, Criminal Practice, and Moot Court (National Competition). He won the Stanley E. Beattie Teaching Award in January 1999, January 2000, May 2009, May 2011, January 2012, and September 2014. In December 2014, Professor Bretz retired from full-time teaching and was given emeritus status.

Articles

• Bretz, Ronald J. and James Peden, "Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program Lecture," 13 TM COOLEY J PRAC & CLIN L 2 (2011).
• Bretz, Ronald J. and James Peden, "Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program Lecture," 3 TM COOLEY J PRAC & CLIN L 139 (2000).
• Bretz, Ronald and William Weiner, "Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program Lecture," 2 TM COOLEY J PRAC & CLIN L 193 (1998).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Annual Survey of Criminal Law," 38 WAYNE L REV 803 (1992).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Annual Survey of Criminal Law," 36 WAYNE L REV 385 (1990).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Annual Survey of Criminal Law," 35 WAYNE L REV 413 (1989).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Scientific Evidence and the Frye Rule: the Case for a Cautious Approach," 4 COOLEY L REV 505 (1987).

Books and Chapters in Books

• Bretz, Ronald, et. al., "Criminal Law: Cases, Statutes, and Problems," Wolters Kluwer (Fall 2014). 
• Bretz, Ronald. "170 Years of a Balancing Act: A Brief History of Criminal Justice in Michigan," in THE HISTORY OF MICHIGAN LAW, ed. by Paul Finkleman and Martin J. Hershock. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press (2006).
• Bretz, Ronald, co-author. DEFENDER TRIAL BOOK: 1992 Supplement. Lansing, MI: Michigan State Appellate Defender Office (1992).
• Bretz, Ronald. "Scientific Evidence," and "DNA Typing Evidence (2 chapters)," in INTRODUCING EVIDENCE, rev. ed., ed. by James K. Robinson and Lynn M. Collins. Lansing, MI: ICLE (1990).

Other Writings

• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," seminar materials prepared annually for Michigan judges and defense attorneys, (1996-2014)
• Bretz, Ronald, committee member, MODEL CRIMINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS, (2013).
• Bretz, Ronald, committee member, STANDARD CRIMINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS, (2010-2013).
• Bretz, Ronald, "New Era or Will High Court Retain Its ‘Radical’ Ways?,” DOMEMAGAZINE.COM (February 16, 2009).
• Bretz, Ronald, "When Does the Constitution Prohibit the State from Forcing a Person to Identify Himself?," 6 PREVIEW 329 (March 15, 2004).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Does Violation of the Sixth Amendment Require Suppression of a Subsequent Mirandized Statement?," 3 PREVIEW 136 (November 28, 2003).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Must Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims Always Be Raised First on Direct Appeal?," 5 PREVIEW 262 (February 21, 2003).
• Bretz, Ronald, "When Does a State Court Decision Involve an Unreasonable Application of Federal Law?," 6 PREVIEW 312 (March 13, 2002).
• Bretz, Ronald and James Peden, "Michigan Criminal Law Update," Detroit-Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, 2000.
• Bretz, Ronald, "When Can a State Prisoner in a Federal Habeas Corpus Petition Cite Ineffective Assistance of Counsel as Good Cause to Excuse His Procedural Default?," 5 PREVIEW 268 (February 5, 2000).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Can Police Detain an Individual Soley Because He Ran Away From Them." 2 PREVIEW 96 (October 20, 1999).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Fourth Circuit Holds Miranda Doctrine Not Applicable In Federal Courts," 22 CRIMINAL DEFENSE NEWSLETTER 11 (March, 1999).
• Bretz, Ronald, "The 'Automobile Exception' Revisited: Must Police Have Individualized Suspicion That a Container Holds Contraband Before They Can Search It?," 4 PREVIEW 193 (December 31, 1998).
• Bretz, Ronald and James Peden, "Michigan Law Update," Detroit-Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, 1998.
• Bretz, Ronald, member, Michigan Judicial Institute Editorial Advisory Committee for MANAGING A TRIAL UNDER THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT. Lansing: Michigan Judicial Institute (1995).
• Bretz, Ronald, member, Michigan Judicial Institute Editorial Advisory Committee for SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE (1994).
• Bretz, Ronald, committee member. STANDARD CRIMINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS. (1988-1996).

Presentations

• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Spring Conference (2014).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2013).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Spring Conference (2013).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2012).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the District Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2012).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2011).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2011).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2010).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the District Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2010).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2009).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2009).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Confrontation and other Evidence Issues," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2008).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2008).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2008).
• Bretz, Ronald, "The Vanishing Michigan Constitution," presented at the Criminal Law in the Sun Seminar, Tucson, AZ (2007).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Dealing with the 'CSI Effect'," presented at the State Bar of Michigan Criminal Law Section Mid-Winter Conference (2007).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2006).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Understanding and Effectively Arguing Forensic Evidence Issues," presented at the Indiana Public Defender System Seminar (2006).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2006).
• Bretz, Ronald, "History of Michigan Law," presented at the State Bar of Michigan Annual Meeting (2006).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Symposium on The History of Michigan Law," Wayne State University Law School (2006).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Search and Seizure Update," presented at the Michigan Judicial Institute Magistrate Training Seminar (2006).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Caselaw Update," presented at the Criminal Law in the Sun Seminar, Tucson, AZ (2006).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2005).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Caselaw Update," presented at the Michigan Supreme Court Annual Judge’s Meeting (2005).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Expert Testimony in Michigan," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2005).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Caselaw Update," presented at the Michigan Supreme Court Annual Judge’s Meeting (2005).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Caselaw Update," presented at the Criminal Law in the Sun Seminar, Tucson, AZ (2005).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Prosecutor Challenges to Defense Experts: A Response," presented to the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (2005).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2004).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Caselaw Update and the Amended MRE 702 and 703," presented at the Criminal Law in the Sun Seminar, Tucson, AZ (2004).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Scientific and Expert Testimony in Michigan: The Ground Rules Have Changed," presented to the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (2004).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2004).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2003).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Understanding DNA Evidence: The Law," presented at the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel Criminal Appellate Practice Regional Seminars (2003).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Michigan Judge’s Association Annual Conference (2003).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2002).
• Bretz, Ronald, "DNA and the Innocence Project," presented to the Washtenaw County Bench-Bar Meeting (2001).
• Bretz, Ronald, "DNA and the Innocence Project," presented to the Ingham County Bar Association Criminal Law Section (2001).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Law Update: A Review of Recent Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions," presented at the Michigan Judicial Institute’s Criminal Law Symposium (2001).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Death Penalty," panelist for ACLU Death Penalty Seminar (2001).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Drug Testing of Pregnant Women," moderated panel discussion for TMC Public Interest Law Society (2001).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2001).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Practice multistate feedback lectures" [videorecording] : Yellowacre Exam. Lansing, Mich. T M COOLEY LAW SCHOOL, (2001).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Current Issues in Criminal Law in Michigan Appellate Courts," presented to the Ingham County Bar Association Criminal Law Section (2000).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Racial Profiling," presented to ACLU Lansing Chapter Annual Meeting (2000).
• Bretz, Ronald, "DNA Typing Evidence," presented to the State Bar of Michigan Criminal Law Section (2000).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (2000).
• Bretz, Ronald. "Current Issues in Criminal Law in Michigan Appellate Courts," presented to the Ingham County Bar Association Criminal Law Section (1999).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (1999).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (1998).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Should We Charge Our Children as Adults," presented at a seminar hosted by the TMC Public Interest Law Society (1998).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (1997).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Applications to the Michigan Supreme Court," presented to the Appellate Specialists Conference, Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (1997).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (1996).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Michigan Judicial Institute, Regional Judicial Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan (1996).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Michigan Judicial Institute, Regional Judicial Conference, Traverse City, Michigan (1996).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Michigan Judicial Institute, Regional Judicial Conference, Detroit, Michigan (1996).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Michigan Judicial Institute, Regional Judicial Conference, Lansing, Michigan (1996).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Recent Case Developments in Criminal Law," presented at the Ingham County Criminal Defense Attorneys Seminar (1996).
• Bretz, Ronald, "The Non-Traditional Road," presented to the 6th Circuit ABA/LSD Summer Convention (1996).
• Bretz, Ronald, small group leader, "Confronting Expert Testimony," Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Traverse City, Michigan (1995).
• Bretz, Ronald, "DNA Typing," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (1995).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (1995).
• Bretz, Ronald, "DNA Typing Evidence," presented to Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Southfield, Michigan (1994).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Criminal Jury Instructions," presented at Defender Training Institute, East Lansing, Michigan (1994).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Hot Issues in Criminal Law," presented to Ingham County Bar Association, Lansing, Michigan (1994).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Legal Issues in Criminal Sexual Conduct Cases," presented to Sexual Assault Information Network Annual Conference, Grayling, Michigan (1993).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Legal Issues in Criminal Sexual Conduct Cases," presented to Sexual Assault Information Network Annual Conference, Lansing, Michigan (1993).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Update on Criminal Law," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (1992).
• Bretz, Ronald, "DNA Typing Evidence," presented to Detroit Bar Association, Detroit, Michigan (1991).
• Bretz, Ronald, "DNA Typing Evidence," presented to Kent County Bar Association, Grand Rapids, Michigan (1991).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Post Conviction Remand Proceedings," presented to Ingham County Bar Association, Lansing, Michigan (1989).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Scientific Evidence Serology and DNA Typing," presented to State Bar of Michigan, Criminal Law Section, Bellaire, Michigan (1989).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Serology and DNA Typing," presented to Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, Detroit, Michigan (1989).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Appellate Tactics and Procedure," presented to Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System Seminar, Lansing, Michigan (1988).
• Bretz, Ronald, small group leader, "Presenting Your Theory of Defense," Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Southfield, Michigan (1987).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Appellate Tactics and Procedure," presented to Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System Seminar, Marquette, Michigan (1985).
• Bretz, Ronald, "Oral Arguments: United States Supreme Court, Michigan v. Jackson 84-1531" [audiotape] (1985)
• Bretz, Ronald, "Sentencing," presented to Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Ortonville, Michigan (1982).