Planet Detroit Candidate Survey
As a Michigan Supreme Court Justice and candidate for retention, I am bound by the judicial canons, which require me to refrain from commenting on issues that may come before the Court or that involve policy debates. However, my professional background and commitment to facts-based decisions can provide insight into who I am.
Born and raised on Detroit's east side, I grew up in a family deeply rooted in public service. I graduated as valedictorian of Cass Technical High School before attending Yale University. I earned my law degree from Harvard Law School and began my career practicing commercial litigation in Detroit. I then joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in Toledo, prosecuting complex federal cases.
In 2019, I was appointed to the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit, where I presided over high-volume criminal dockets and the Veterans Treatment Court. In 2022, I was appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals. I continue my service on Michigan's Supreme Court after being appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2025.
As a Justice, I serve as co-liaison to treatment courts and helped create a rule prohibiting civil arrests within courtrooms, aiming to ensure that agencies such as ICE do not deter people from coming to court out of fear.