Michigan Appeals Court Overturns Terrorism Conviction In Whitmer Kidnap Plot
A Michigan Court of Appeals panel on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, unanimously overturned Joseph Morrison's 2022 conviction for providing material support for a terroristic act.[1]
The 3-0 opinion said Michigan's material-support-for-terror statute requires an underlying "violent felony" and that kidnapping no longer meets that statutory definition under state law.[1] Morrison, a founding member of the Wolverine Watchmen, had been accused of hosting gun drills with plot leader Adam Fox on property in Jackson County before arrests in October 2020.[1] Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she would appeal, calling the ruling "nonsensical" and pointing to evidence prosecutors say showed a plan to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.[1]
In October 2020, state and federal authorities arrested Morrison and 13 others in a probe of the alleged Whitmer kidnap plot.[1] A Jackson County jury convicted Morrison in October 2022 on counts including providing material support for a terrorist act, gang membership and felony firearm possession, and he was sentenced to four to 20 years.[1] The appeals panel relied in part on a 2006 change to Michigan law that removed force as an element of the state kidnapping statute, a shift the court said means kidnapping no longer qualifies as the kind of violent felony required under the terrorism statute.[1]
Overall, nine of the 14 people arrested in the 2020 sweep have been convicted in state and federal prosecutions, while five have been acquitted.[1] The appeals court did not set a timetable for further proceedings, and Michigan prosecutors said they will seek review of the decision.[1]
The mainstream summary does not mention the critical legal nuance that the Michigan kidnapping statute was amended in 2006 to define the offense solely in terms of restraint without consent, effectively removing any element of force from the definition. This change is pivotal, as it underpins the court's ruling that kidnapping no longer qualifies as a violent felony under the state's terrorism statute, a point emphasized in the court's opinion. The summary also fails to highlight that the court's decision grants Morrison a new trial, which could have significant implications for the remaining defendants in the case, as the broader context of the legal proceedings has seen mixed outcomes for the 14 individuals arrested in 2020. This complexity is underscored by the fact that nine have been convicted while five were acquitted, reflecting a contentious legal landscape that the mainstream coverage does not fully capture.
Moreover, while the summary portrays Attorney General Dana Nessel's reaction as a straightforward disagreement with the ruling, it does not delve into the broader implications of public trust in federal law enforcement, which has been eroded by extreme political polarization. This context is crucial, as a 2023 Harvard Law Review article suggests that such skepticism toward government efforts to label and prosecute domestic terrorism cases complicates the narrative surrounding these prosecutions. The legal and societal ramifications of this ruling extend beyond Morrison himself, touching on the evolving dynamics of domestic extremism and the challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing these threats.[2][3]
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📊 Relevant Data
Michigan's kidnapping statute (MCL 750.349) was amended in 2006 to define the offense solely in terms of restraint without consent, removing any element of force, attempted force, or threatened physical force.
MCL 750.349 Kidnapping — Michigan Legislature
Under MCL 750.543b, an 'act of terrorism' requires a 'violent felony' defined as one involving the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force; the 2006 kidnapping amendment means kidnapping no longer meets this definition.
Michigan Court of Appeals opinion in People v. Morrison (Case No. 364651) — Michigan Courts
📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed Joseph Morrison's 2022 conviction for providing material support for a terroristic act.
- The 3-0 opinion held that kidnapping is not an underlying violent felony that can sustain a terrorism-support conviction under Michigan law.
- Morrison, linked to the Wolverine Watchmen, was accused of holding gun drills with plot leader Adam Fox in Jackson County before the October 2020 arrests.
- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel vowed to appeal, calling the decision 'nonsensical' and stressing evidence of a plan to kidnap and murder Gov. Whitmer.
- Overall, nine of 14 defendants in the Whitmer plot cases have been convicted and five acquitted in state and federal proceedings.
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