Megan Cavanagh

As a Michigan Supreme Court Justice and candidate for re-election, I must adhere to the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct, which limits my ability to comment on matters of public policy, including issues that could come before the courts. However, my professional background can provide insight into who I am.

After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in environmental engineering, I worked as an environmental engineer, where I conducted site assessments related to environmental contamination and regulatory compliance. That experience gave me a foundational understanding of how environmental laws operate in practice, particularly in areas such as land use, cleanup standards, and risk assessment.

I earned my J.D. from Wayne State University Law School while working full-time. For more than 15 years, I practiced appellate law in Detroit. In 2018, I was elected as a Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, then unanimously selected by my colleagues as Chief Justice in 2025.

If re-elected, I will continue to strengthen Michigan's justice system in a way that is fair, accessible, and responsive to the needs of the people it serves, including efforts to expand access to justice, strengthen treatment and problem-solving courts, and improve outcomes within the child welfare system.

Michigan courts have addressed a range of environmental issues in recent years, including Michigan Farm Bureau v Dept of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (2024), 3M Company v Dept of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (2024), and Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance v Saugatuck Twp (2022).