Matthew J. Schneider

Adjunct Professor
Law College Building
648 N. Shaw Lane Rm 368
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300

  • Biography

    Matthew Schneider is Michigan's Chief Deputy Attorney General. He oversees the office's 40,000 ongoing criminal and civil cases. He manages a staff of 500 employees and a budget of over $100 million. Previously, he was the Chief Legal Counsel for the Michigan Office of Attorney General, where he was the lead counsel representing the Governor and the State of Michigan in the City of Detroit federal bankruptcy case.

    Schneider previously served as the Michigan Supreme Court's Chief of Staff and General Counsel. Schneider provided overall direction for the administration of Michigan's Judicial Branch of government and served as chief legal counsel to the Chief Justice and the Justices.

    Schneider is a former federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice in Detroit. He focused on prosecuting corrupt public officials and members of organized crime, as well as street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs. He handled an anti-terrorism caseload and held the U.S. Government's highest security clearance, Top Secret S.C.I. During his eight years as a federal prosecutor, he received numerous awards from federal law enforcement agencies including the FBI, the DEA, and the ATF.

    Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, Schneider served on the legal staff of President George W. Bush. President Bush appointed Schneider as Senior Advisor and Assistant General Counsel in the White House Budget Office during the President's first term. Schneider helped to develop the President's major policy, budget, and legal initiatives at the White House. Among other things, he drafted the President's Executive Orders and Signing Statements, advised the President's Cabinet members on their testimony before Congress, and advised senior policy makers on the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

    Schneider previously practiced international law with the Washington, D.C. firm of Wiley Rein LLP, where he represented American companies in suits against foreign governments for unfair business and trade actions.

    Schneider has been an adjunct law professor for several years and he has spoken and written on numerous aspects of constitutional law and criminal procedure. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Michigan State University's James Madison College, and has studied at Cambridge University, England.

  • Degrees

    J.D. 2000, University of Michigan Law School; B.A. 1996, with honors, Michigan State University, James Madison College

  • Courses

    Federal Investigation and Prosecution
    Students will be introduced to nearly all aspects of federal criminal investigation, including identifying crimes, analyzing constitutional requirements, using a Grand Jury, dealing with cooperators and informants, engaging in undercover operations, using electronic surveillance, choosing the correct charging procedure, obtaining search and arrest warrants, and managing ethical obligations in an investigation. Students will learn how to apply the evidence obtained from an investigation in a federal prosecution. Students will learn how to analyze complex statues, argue a detention hearing, engage in plea negotiations, apply the federal sentencing guidelines, advocate at trial and sentencing, and manage ethical obligations in a prosecution.

  • Bar Admission(s)

    District of Columbia; Michigan