The need for improvement across Michigan's criminal indigent defense systems has long been recognized, and new legislation has created the opportunity to reform the quality of criminal indigent defense across the state. With the creation of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission and the establishment of the first set of minimum standards for criminal indigent defense, this study uses this unique time in Michigan's history to study implementation of reform in the courts at a critical time. Using implementation science and role theory to guide the study, key stakeholders-chief judges and court administrators-were surveyed anonymously across the State of Michigan. They were queried on the current state of criminal indigent defense in their jurisdiction, their perceptions on the new reform, and their role in implementing this new reform. Their experiences and perceptions provide insight into the critical role that key stakeholders' perceptions play in implementing reform in organizations.Findings indicate that while there is widespread support for the reform effort for criminal indigent defense systems in Michigan, there is skepticism that the state will provide adequate funding in order to ensure the success of the reform. There are also concerns about the logistics of the reform as well as some confusion about the specific roles that chief judges and court administrators will fulfill in the implementation process. The study provides insight into the thought processes of key stakeholders at a critical starting point of reform implementation.
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