Susan Anne Longsworth

Susan is a motivated criminal defense attorney dedicated to providing her clients with high-quality representation to obtain the best results in each unique case. Whether her clients' interests are best served by trial or by negotiating a favorable resolution, Susan is prepared with the knowledge, skills and experience to achieve her clients' goals.

Recent results include:

          - a verdict of not guilty of a weapons offense;

          - dismissal of charges after Susan demonstrated the client's conduct was legal;

          - negotiating a sentence of less than 1 year jail for a client charged with a felony

            punishable by life in prison.

Susan has represented clients ranging from minor misdemeanors and traffic tickets to felonies punishable by life in prison. Susan's experience prosecuting similar cases and participating in the local treatment courts has provided an advantage to clients facing serious felonies and violations of probation who serve no jail or prison at the conclusion of their cases.

Prior to founding Susan Longsworth, PLC, Susan served for ten years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Washtenaw County. As an assistant prosecutor, Susan presented a full range of cases to juries, from minor misdemeanors to life offenses. Susan further served as the prosecutor’s representative in all the Ann Arbor specialty courts: Sobriety Court, Street Outreach Court, Mental Health Treatment Court, and Veteran’s Treatment Court.

While at the Prosecutor’s Office, Susan served as Circuit Court Trial Attorney, Lead Domestic Violence Prosecutor, and Warrant Review Attorney. As a Circuit Court Trial Attorney, Susan prosecuted everything from low severity felonies, such as larceny and drug crimes, to life offenses, such as armed robbery and carjacking. While Lead Domestic Violence Prosecutor, Susan reviewed the prosecution of every domestic violence case, and handled first offender misdemeanors to attempted murder. As Warrant Review Attorney, Susan evaluated police investigations and decided whether to issue or deny criminal charges.

Susan trained police officers at departments throughout Washtenaw County, at the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), and at the WCC Police Academy. These trainings addressed police investigation strategies concerning domestic violence, drunk driving, identity theft, and general crimes.

Susan’s background as a prosecutor gives her insight into the criminal justice system, including all of Ann Arbor’s specialty courts, that she puts to work on behalf of her clients. Thanks to her work as a police trainer, Susan understands the protocols that police officers need to follow when investigating cases of drunk driving and drug offenses – and she knows where to look for the evidence that can lead to charges being dismissed.

Following her tenure as an assistant prosecutor, Susan practiced criminal law at her own firm, before joining the law office of Michael P. Manley, PC, in 2016. While working with Mr. Manley--a highly reputed and effective criminal defense attorney in Flint, Michigan--Susan received premier training unique to the defense side of criminal law.

Susan graduated cum laude from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, having majored in English and Spanish. While a student, Susan volunteered at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. Susan then attended Notre Dame Law School on an academic scholarship, and earned her law degree in 2002.

Susan chose to attend Notre Dame in part because of the school’s focus on justice, particularly its Center for Civil and Human Rights, and was employed as a faculty research assistant for that department’s Associate Director. She volunteered for the late Justice Patrick Crooks, a Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. While at Notre Dame, Susan co-established the Notre Dame Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, participated in externships at the St. Joseph County (IN) Office of the Public Defender, and interned at the Federal Defenders of San Diego, the nation’s busiest Federal Defender’s Office.

After receiving her law degree, Susan traveled to Santiago, Chile, where she worked in international law at the law firm of Alwyn Abogados.  Susan was mentored by attorneys who served on the Human Rights Commission, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as diplomats and as legal educators.

Susan began her law career in the States as the Judicial Attorney for 43rd Circuit Court Judge Susan Dobrich in Cass County, Michigan. In the 43rd Circuit Court, Susan gained experience in Juvenile Delinquency cases, Abuse/Neglect proceedings, Personal Protection Orders, and Felony Crimes, as well as Friend of the Court, Probate, and Family Law matters. Among her responsibilities, she commonly helped unrepresented parties navigate through the court system. It was here that Susan decided to dedicate her career to criminal law.