Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission

        For a succession chart of Commissioners from its inception, click here.

2008 Commissioners:  Seated (from left):  Hon. Kathleen J. McCann, Hon. Barry M. Grant, and Thomas J. Ryan, Esq.  Standing (from left):  Marja M. Winters, Hon. Nanci J. Grant, Hon. Jeanne Stempien, Executive Director Paul J. Fischer, Esq., Hon. Michael J. Talbot, Ronald F. Rose, and Nancy J. Diehl, Esq.
 

Biographies of Commissioners:


Hon. Barry M. Grant, Chairperson
Oakland County Probate Judge
1200 North Telegraph Road
Pontiac, Michigan  48053
Elected by Probate Judges
Member since January 1, 1986
Current term expires December 31, 2008

Honorable Barry M. Grant’s hometown is Bloomfield Township, Michigan.  He currently presides as Chief Judge Pro Tem for Oakland County Probate Court.  Judge Grant was elected to the Judicial Tenure Commission by his fellow probate judges in 1985.  He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University, a Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State Law School, with post-graduate work at Harvard and Northwestern law schools.  His previous public offices include Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Oakland County, Secretary of the Southfield Board of Education, President of the Michigan Probate Judges Association, and President of the National College of Probate Judges.


Hon. Kathleen J. McCann, Vice Chairperson
Chief Judge, 16th Judicial District
15140 Farmington Road
Livonia, Michigan  48154
Elected by District Court Judges
Member since January 1, 2003
Current term expires December 31, 2010

Honorable Kathleen J. McCann serves as Chief Judge of the 16th District Court in Livonia. She was elected by the District Court Judges to the Judicial Tenure Commission commencing January 1, 2003. Judge McCann received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hillsdale College and her Juris Doctor from Detroit College of Law. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Michigan District Judges Association and is President of the Incorporated Society of Irish/American Lawyers in 2002-2003.


Thomas J. Ryan, Esq., Secretary
2055 Orchard Lake Road
Sylvan Lake, Michigan 48320
Elected by state bar membership
Member since January 1, 2005
Current term expires December 31, 2010

Thomas J. Ryan is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, American Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Association, and the Oakland County Ancient Order of Hibernians.  He is a Past President of the State Bar of Michigan and was its 66th President from September, 2000 to September, 2001.  Mr. Ryan served on the Oakland County Bar Association’s Board of Directors and was its President from 1993 to 1994.  He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.  He has been in the private practice of law since January 1977, and is the attorney for the Village of Beverly Hills, City of Keego Harbor, City of the Village of Clarkston, and City of Orchard Lake Village, as well as the Prosecuting Attorney for the Township of Bloomfield.


Hon. Jeanne Stempien
Judge, 3rd Judicial Circuit
2 Woodward Avenue, Room 1601
Detroit, Michigan  48226
Elected by state bar membership
Member since January 1, 2004
Current term expires December 31, 2009

Honorable Jeanne Stempien is serving her third term as a Judge of the Wayne County Third Circuit Court.  She was elected to the Judicial Tenure Commission commencing January 1, 2004. Judge Stempien received a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the University of Michigan- Dearborn and a Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, from the Detroit College of Law.  In the past, she was elected the Chairperson of the Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees.  Judge Stempien served as a facilitator for the National Judicial College and is currently a member of the Inns of Court, an advocacy program for law students.


Hon. Michael J. Talbot
Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals
Cadillac Place
3020 W. Grand Blvd., Suite 14-300
Detroit, Michigan 48202
Elected by Court of Appeals Judges
Member since January 1, 2004
Current term expires December 31, 2009

Honorable Michael J. Talbot was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 1998.  He was elected to the Judicial Tenure Commission by his fellow Court of Appeals judges for a term that began on January 1, 2004.  Judge Talbot has also served as a judge of the Wayne Circuit, Detroit Recorder's, Detroit Common Pleas courts and worked as an attorney in private practice.  He also served as a City of Detroit housing commissioner, and was a candidate for the Michigan Supreme Court in 1992. Judge Talbot received his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and his law degree from the University of Detroit.


Nancy J. Diehl, Esq.
 Elected by state bar membership
Member since January 1, 2006
Current term expires December 31, 2008

Nancy J. Diehl has worked as a prosecutor for 25 years, and currently heads the Felony Trial Division in the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office overseeing general trials, child and family abuse, homicide, auto theft, and major drugs.  She serves on the executive committee of the Governor’s Task Force on Children’s Justice, chairs the Wayne County Council Against Family Violence, and is past president of the State Bar of Michigan.  Fellow members of the State Bar of Michigan elected her to the Judicial Tenure Commission for a term beginning January 1, 2006.  Ms. Diehl has a Bachelor of Arts from Western Michigan University and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School.


Ronald F. Rose
 Appointed by governor
Member since March 9, 2006
Current term expires December 31, 2008

Ronald F. Rose is a former attorney, having practiced law for over 31 years, including 29½ years with the Michigan Department of Attorney General.  He retired from the Attorney General’s Office on October 31, 2002 as the First Assistant Attorney General of the Occupational and Professional Regulation Division. In January 2003, he was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General to handle several appellate matters before the Michigan Court of Appeals. Mr. Rose resigned from the State Bar of Michigan in November 2003, after over 32 years as a member in good standing.  Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed him to the Judicial Tenure Commission in March 2006.  She also appointed him to serve on the Utility Consumer Participation Board, where he is currently the vice-chairman.  Mr. Rose graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1965 with a B.S. degree, and he received his law degree in 1971 from the Detroit College of Law.  The father of two grown sons, he resides with his wife just west of Lansing in Delta Charter Township in Eaton County.


Hon. Nanci J. Grant
Judge, Sixth Circuit Court
1200 North Telegraph Road, Dept. 404
Pontiac, Michigan 48341
Elected by Circuit Court Judges
Member since January 1, 2007
Current term expires December 31, 2009

Honorable Nanci J. Grant is currently serving as a judge of the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County, Michigan.  She was elected to the Judicial Tenure Commission by her fellow Circuit Judges in 2006.  Judge Grant graduated from The University of Michigan with honors, and has a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School, where she was the head of an honors program.  She has served as President of the Michigan Judges Association and currently is Vice-Chairperson of the Judicial Conference of the State Bar of Michigan.  Judge Grant was elected to the 6th Circuit Court in 1996.


Marja M. Winters
 Appointed by governor
Member since January 31, 2008
Current term expires December 31, 2010

 

 

SUCCESSION CHART OF COMMISSION MEMBERS

(1)        Court of Appeals Judge
            Hon. John Gillis (January 1, 1969 - June 13, 1977)
            Hon. Michael J. Kelly (June 13, 1977 - December 31, 1985)
            Hon. Harold Hood (January 1, 1986 - December 31, 1994)
            Hon. William B. Murphy (January 1, 1995 - December 31, 2003)
            Hon. Michael J. Talbot (January 1, 2004 - Present)

(2)        Circuit Court Judge
            Hon. Lucien F. Sweet (January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1974)
            Hon. James E. Hoff (January 1, 1975 - December 31, 1976)
            Hon. James S. Thorburn (April 4, 1977 - December 31, 1985)
            Hon. Hilda R. Gage (January 1, 1986 - December 31 1991)
            Hon. M. Richard Knoblock (January 1, 1992 - December 31, 2000)
            Hon. James C. Kingsley (January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2006)
            Hon. Nanci J. Grant (January 1, 2007 - Present)

(3)        Probate Court Judge
            Hon. James T. Kallman (January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1972)
            Hon. Harold E. Resteiner (January 1, 1973 - December 31, 1985)
            Hon. Barry M. Grant (January 1, 1986 - Present)

(4)        Limited Jurisdiction Judge (District and Municipal)
            Hon. Daniel L. Walsh (January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1972)
            Hon. David L. Golden (January 1, 1973 - December 31, 1974)
            Hon. James E. Mies (January 1, 1975 - June 28, 1981)
            Hon. James R. McCann (September 14, 1981 - December 31, 1994)
            Hon. Theresa Doss (January 1, 1995 - December 31, 2001)
            Hon. William J. Runco (January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002)
            Hon. Kathleen J. McCann (February 10, 2003 - Present)

(5)        Judge Elected By State Bar
            Hon. Horace W. Gilmore (January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1976)
            Hon. John D. O’Hair (January 1, 1977 - December 31, 1982)
            Hon. Thomas J. Foley (January 1, 1983 - March 1991)
            Hon. Marianne O. Battani (July, 1991 - May, 2000)
            Hon. Pamela R. Harwood (January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2003)
            Hon. Jeanne Stempien (January 1, 2004 - Present)

 (6)       Attorney Elected By State Bar
            Jason L. Honigman (January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1978)
            Ivan E. Barris (January 1, 1979 - December 31, 1984)
            Leo A. Farhat (January 1, 1985 - December 31, 1988)
            F. Philip Colista (January 1, 1989 - December 31, 1999)
            Carole Chiamp (January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2005)
            Nancy J. Diehl (January 1, 2006 - Present)

(7)        Attorney Elected By State Bar
            George E. Bushnell, Jr. (January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1983)
            Dean Emeritus John Abbott (January 1, 1984 - December 31, 1989)
            Henry Baskin (January 1, 1990 - December 31, 2004)
            Thomas J. Ryan (January 1, 2005 - Present)

(8)        Layperson Appointed By The Governor
            Waldo Cain, M.D. (January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1977)
            Lawrence J. Washington (March 13, 1978 - September 14, 1981)
            Marjorie Peebles-Meyers, M.D., (November 9, 1981 - May 1991)
            Dr. Donald A. Morris (June 1991 - January 12, 1994)
            Prof. Harry S. Veryser (February 4, 1994 - December 31, 1996)
            Daniel Pero (February 7, 1997 - April 22, 1997)
            JoAnne McPherson (July 9, 1997 - December 31, 1999)
            Peter B. Fletcher (February 11, 2000 - December 31, 2001)
            Daniel Pero (January 1, 2002 - December 4, 2002)
            Richard D. Simonson (December 4, 2002 - December 31, 2005)
            Ronald F. Rose (March 9, 2006 - Present)

(9)        Layperson Appointed By the Governor
            Dr. Harlan Hatcher (January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1977)
            Martin S. Hayden (February 10, 1978 - February 6, 1984)
            Rabbi Irwin Groner (February 7, 1984 - December 31, 1988)
            Rev. Jay J. Samonie (January 3, 1989 - December 31, 1992)
            Sibyl M. Ellis (March 3, 1993 - December 31, 1998)
            James Mick Middaugh (March 23, 1999 - December 31, 2004)
            Diane M. Garrison (March 8, 2005 - December 31, 2007)
            Marja M. Winters (January 31, 2008 - Present)

 

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