Christopher Wirth '04 MBA, founding attorney of Grand Rapids-based Core Legal PLC, recently helped reshape Michigan criminal law through his representation of the defendant in People v. Madison. In July, the Michigan Supreme Court overturned People v. Carpenter, a 25-year-old precedent that had prevented defendants who did not meet the legal standard for insanity from introducing mental-health evidence to challenge whether they formed the specific intent required for certain crimes. The decision now allows relevant, otherwise admissible mental-health evidence to be considered when determining whether prosecutors have proven that element of an offense.

The landmark decision is the latest achievement in Wirth's nearly two-decade legal career. A seasoned trial attorney, he has represented clients in more than 3,000 court hearings and tried more than 150 cases to verdict across Michigan state and federal courts. His work has also included significant advocacy on behalf of children and families; he has represented more than 500 children who experienced abuse and neglect and has served on state-level child-welfare initiatives, including the Governor's Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Wirth earned his MBA from Grand Valley State University's Seidman College of Business in 2004 before earning his J.D., cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2006. He later returned to GVSU as an adjunct professor teaching Business Law. Today, as founding attorney of Core Legal, he practices in criminal defense, family law, and civil litigation throughout Michigan.