Joseph A. Simon (often referred to as Joe Simon) is widely considered a “heavy hitter” in the Ann Arbor legal community and is the quintessential strategic hire for someone in Sherrone Moore’s position.
Here is the breakdown of his reputation and why Moore hired him:
1. The “Local Fixer” Reputation
Simon is not just a Michigan lawyer; he is an Ann Arbor institution.
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Location: His office is literally located across the street from Michigan Stadium (“The Big House”). He specializes in representing University of Michigan students and staff.
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Relationships: With over 35 years of experience in Washtenaw County, he has deep, established relationships with the local judges and the prosecutor’s office (the same people prosecuting Moore). In a case like this, knowing the judge’s temperament is as important as knowing the law.
2. The “Sentencing Expert”
This is the most critical part of his résumé for Moore:
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He Wrote the Code: Simon is the author of the Michigan Automated Sentencing Guidelines, a computer program used by probation agents and attorneys across the state to calculate prison and jail sentences.
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Why it matters: Moore is facing complex felony and misdemeanor charges. Having the lawyer who literally wrote the software on sentencing guidelines gives Moore the best possible chance of navigating the “points system” to avoid prison time.
3. Accolades & Specialty
Simon is a criminal defense specialist, not a generalist.
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“Lawyer of the Year”: He has been named Ann Arbor’s Criminal Defense: General Practice “Lawyer of the Year” multiple times by Best Lawyers (including in 2023, 2024, and 2025).
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The “College Crimes” Niche: His firm has a specific practice area for “College Crimes,” defending people in the university orbit against sexual misconduct, assault, and domestic violence charges.
The Verdict: Hiring Joe Simon signals that Moore is taking the charges seriously but looking to resolve this quietly and locally. Simon is not a “TV lawyer” who goes on cable news to scream; he is a technician who cuts deals in the backrooms of the Washtenaw County courthouse.
