Partner Profiles
Martin Hutchins
Purpose-Driven Leadership
At the forefront of the Reclaim Your Future campaign, Arizona’s state-funded marijuana expungement effort, is our litigation manager, Martin Hutchins, who’s also an attorney working for the Arizona Justice Project, based in Phoenix.
Martin’s multifaceted role involves both program management and active legal representation. On one front, Martin prepares monthly reports for the Arizona Department of Health Services, tracking the activities and progress of the Reclaim Your Future campaign. He also oversees critical aspects such as advertisement, publicity, media relations, and general outreach. He also plays a pivotal role in referring cases to legal aid partners within our coalition of seven organizations across the state.
For our latest Partner Profile, Martin recently shared insights into his crucial role, his motivation, and the profound impact of the expungement campaign on individuals and communities across the state.
“This is my opportunity to prevent the state from collecting one more dollar from marijuana-related criminal problems as we provide free legal services to everyone.”
Why is expungement an important issue to you?
Martin: I just recognize that a criminal record is such a Scarlett letter for people in this country. I have watched close relatives navigate life with old criminal records and I see them affected severely with felony and misdemeanor offenses committed many years ago.
Why do you believe that the expungement campaign is important to communities across Arizona?
Martin: It’s putting no-cost resources in the hands of individuals who have dealt with the impact of a marijuana conviction longer than they should have. Corporations across Arizona are making billions of dollars off marijuana sales. So, frankly, it’s gross that people are still feeling any sort of impact on their personal lives as a result of having a criminal record related to marijuana.
What impact has this work had on you personally?
Martin: So far, my legal career has really been dedicated to public interest work, which generally leads me to serve only indigent clients in my direct representation. However, with the expungement campaign, we are providing free legal services to people who qualify as indigent and to those who can afford a private attorney. This is my opportunity to prevent the state from collecting one more dollar from marijuana-related criminal problems as we provide free legal services to everyone. I just find this work to be purpose-driven and socially beneficial, which are huge reasons why I went to law school.
What do your future plans look like?
Martin: I am not certain. However, I will always dedicate my career to public interest work, whether that is involved in direct representation or work more broadly to impact policy and communities on a macro-level.
What are you proudest of in the work you’ve done the last two years?
Martin: My proudest moments have been seeing the work of our coalition resulting in individuals being released from incarceration or community supervision early because of having prior marijuana offenses expunged. I’ve seen a man who thought he would be spending the rest of his life in prison be released and reunited with his family. That’s by far my proudest moment. I still beam with pride each time I interact with our partners at the ASU Post-Conviction Clinic, which includes law students, who helped us get him out and home to his family.
Do you want to meet Martin and receive free expungement legal aid services? Go to our next marijuana expungement clinic on September 27 at South Mountain Community Library, 7050 S. 24th St. in Phoenix, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. For details, visit: https://azexpunge.org/legal-clinic/marijuana-expungement-clinic-phoenix-09-27-23/
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