Tribute to Distinguished Professor Emeritus Norm Fell

Professor Norman Fell
September 8, 1942 - June 21, 2024

Professor Emeritus Norman Fell dedicated his professional career, and his life, to public service. He was a family man, outdoorsman, traveler and avid music fan.

Norman (Norm) Fell was born on September 8, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan to Al and Rose Fell. He attended high school at Cass Tech in Detroit. He received his B.S. in from Wayne State University in 1965 and his law degree in 1968.

He began his legal career as a member of the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office where he became the chief deputy defender of the Long Beach Municipal Court. Upon returning to Michigan, He worked for the Ann Arbor Legal Aid Society, then established the Law Co-Op, providing criminal defense to middle to low-income residents. 

Professor Fell began his teaching career at Cooley Law School in 1988. He served as one of the first supervising attorneys in the Sixty Plus Elder Law Clinic, and later served as its executive director. He was the founding director of the Washtenaw Public Defender Clinic, one of the first hybrid clinical programs in the country. “Development of a Criminal Law Clinic: A Blended Approach, 44 Clev. St. L. Rev. 275 (1996); https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1581&context=clevstlrev

In 2000, Professor Fell testified before the Michigan legislature in support of a post-conviction DNA testing law. When asked by state representatives how such a program would be funded, Fell offered up the law school. His offer made the news before the school had the chance to consider the proposal. Michigan’s post-conviction DNA testing law was passed on January 6, 2001 and Professor Fell started the first innocence project in the state shortly thereafter. Since its inception, the Cooley Innocence Project has exonerated nine men and provided its support and expertise in four additional cases. 

Over the years, Professor Fell served on numerous non-profit boards and received a number of awards, including the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM) Justice for All, Patriots and Liberty Bell awards. He was named as one of Michigan’s leaders in the law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

But Professor Fell was more than a public servant. He was a dedicated father and family man. He and his partner Alice raised two daughters, Shayna and Amanda. He was very proud of his daughters, often sharing stories about their lives and accomplishments. As a family, they traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada and Israel. Norm always enjoyed the outdoors; he worked in the Forest Service prior to beginning his legal career. He also drove a food truck, a job he loved. For many years, Norm sailed every summer and was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. He volunteered for many years at the Ark Theater in Ann Arbor. 

He lived a good, full life. 

Marla Mitchell-Cichon
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Counsel to the Cooley Innocence Project