Lawyer: Ex-Detroit councilwoman Conyers is appealing judge’s refusal to drop her guilty plea

Conyers lawyer clarifies grounds for appeal

DETROIT — A lawyer for former Detroit councilwoman Monica Conyers says an appeal in her criminal case will focus on a judge’s refusal to allow her to withdraw her guilty plea to corruption charges.

Doug Mullkoff is trying to clear up any misunderstanding of what Conyers wants from the federal appeals court in Cincinnati.

Mullkoff acknowledges Conyers’ agreement with prosecutors bars an appeal of her conviction or sentence if the punishment is less than five years. He says she’s upset about U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn’s reaction when she asked to scratch her guilty plea before the sentence in March.

Mullkoff filed a response Wednesday to the government’s request that the appeals court reject Conyers’ appeal. She’s due to start a 37-month prison sentence by July 1.