Oral History Project

Interview: Attorney and Professor Michael Steinberg (Spring 2024)

By: Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse

March 22, 2024

An oral history interview with attorney and professor Michael Steinberg, conducted by Michigan Law 2L Andrew Eslich on March 22, 2024. In this interview, civil rights lawyer and professor Michael Steinberg discusses his background and path to civil rights lawyering as well as his work as legal director of the ACLU of Michigan, including a lawsuit that sought press and public access to immigration proceedings, a case challenging property tax assessments in Detroit in the wake of the 2008 recession, and a lawsuit alleging violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act in Flint.  

Headshot of Michael Steinberg

Interview Summary

In this interview, civil rights lawyer and professor Michael Steinberg discusses his background and path to civil rights lawyering as well as his work as legal director of the ACLU of Michigan, including a lawsuit that sought press and public access to immigration proceedings, a case challenging property tax assessments in Detroit in the wake of the 2008 recession, and a lawsuit alleging violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act in Flint.  

View the full interview with Professor Steinberg:

Professor Steinberg discusses his work as a civil rights lawyer on cases including: 

A lawsuit seeking return of blood samples from more than 160 Black men, in Shelton v. Ann Arbor Police Department;

Detroit Free Press v. Ashcroft, which sought press and public access to immigration proceedings;

An action under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act to secure safe drinking water for Flint, Michigan, Concerned Pastors for Social Action v. Khouri;

Morningside Community Organization v. Sabree, a lawsuit challenging assessment of property taxes in Detroit in the wake of the 2008 recession;  

and Hamama v. Adducci, a case concerning the due process rights of detained Iraqi Americans facing deportation to Iraq.


Publications/Resources

By: Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse

August 26, 2024

Contents: Clearinghouse Oral History Project Interview with Professor Michael Steinberg (Spring 2024)
[00:00-23:12] Introduction, Background, Law School, and Early Legal Career
[23:13-32:13] Shelton v. Ann Arbor Police Department
[32:14-44:58] Work at the ACLU of Michigan
[44:59-54:23] Detroit Free Press v. Ashcroft
[54:24-1:06:23] Concerned Pastors for Social Action v. Khouri
[1:06:24-1:24:15] Morningside Community Organization v. Sabree
[1:24:16-1:32:05] Hamama v. Adducci
[1:32:06-1:35:08] Concluding Remarks on ACLU Work
[1:35:09-1:41:00] On Teaching and Work at Michigan Law
[1:41:01-1:52:42] Final Reflections and Advice for Students
Full Video