John Powell serves as the Database Manger, Webmaster and Trainer for the State Appellate Defender Office in Detroit, Michigan, where he has held this position since 1996.  He develops and maintains the SADO web site and its many databases, including the Brief Bank of 3500 Appellate briefs and the Defender Trial, Sentencing, Motions and Habeas Books. 

Mr. Powell has been instrumental in obtaining national web site recognition for the SADO site.  In 1999, SADO web site was a runner-up in the Global Information Infrastructure (GII) Awards sponsored by then Vice-President Al Gore.  Mr. Powell was also featured in a 1997 New York Times article, “Moving From the Card Catalogue to the Internet.”  In June, 2007, Mr. Powell's article "How to Build an Online Brief Bank" was published in Law Practice Today and reprinted in the September issue of the National Legal Aid and Defender publication, Cornerstone.  

Mr. Powell holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Information and Library Studies.