University of Detroit Mercy School of Law will celebrate the graduating class of 2018 at the Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 11 at 5 p.m. in Calihan Hall on the McNichols Campus of University of Detroit Mercy.
Michael J. Talbot, School of Law alumnus (’71) and former chief judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals and Court of Claims, will deliver the School of Law’s Commencement address. He retired on April 25 after 40 years on the bench, including four years as chief judge and 20 years serving on the Court of Appeals. Previously, Talbot served as a trial judge in Wayne County Circuit Court and Detroit Common Pleas Court, the predecessor to the 36th District Court in Detroit.
Since taking the bench in 1978, Talbot has proven to be a dedicated advocate for the people of Michigan. At the Court of Appeals, he oversaw a successful intervention of the 36th District Court during the city’s bankruptcy and developed procedures for the Court of Claims to operate more efficiently for the people it serves. As a member of the Judicial Tenure Commission, Talbot helped promote the integrity of the judicial process and hold state judges accountable in cases of misconduct. While leading the State Bar of Michigan’s criminal law section, he worked with state legislators to craft the Michigan Crime Victim’s Rights Act, which keeps victims well-informed of case proceedings and guarantees them the right to speak at sentencing. Given his talent as a jurist and public advocate, Talbot was recently appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, which promotes the health, safety, and welfare of Michigan’s children and families by funding local programs and services that help prevent child abuse and neglect.
Off the bench, Talbot is a leader in the Catholic community and a strong supporter of Jesuit education. He chairs the Archdiocese Board of Education and the Detroit Archdiocese Board of Review, which addresses alleged abuse by Catholic priests. In addition, he serves as a trustee of Madonna University, Sacred Heart Seminary, and the Archdiocese Endowment Fund.
Talbot grew up in Livonia, where his father, Joseph, an automotive purchasing agent, served on the charter commission, and his mother, Betty, was a district court administrator. He received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. From there, he pursued a career in local service in his home state and earned his J.D. from Detroit Mercy Law.
The School of Law Commencement Ceremony will begin with members of the Class of 1968 leading the Commencement procession as golden jubilee anniversary graduates. The Motor City Brass Quintet will accompany alumna Clare Sawicki (’17) as she performs the national anthems of Canada and the United States. Detroit Mercy Law Dean Phyllis L. Crocker and University President Antoine M. Garibaldi will offer remarks, in addition to graduate Ryan Mardini, who was selected by his classmates to speak on their behalf. Graduate Aysha Allos will lead the prayer inspired by St. Thomas More. Edward Lennon (’88), president of the Detroit Mercy Law Alumni Association, will close the ceremony by welcoming the Class of 2018 to the Alumni Association.
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