Legal People ...

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently appointed Darnella D. Williams to the Wayne County Circuit Court.

Williams is currently the deputy chief of staff for the Wayne County Executive’s Office. In this role, she reviews, approves, and executes contracts on behalf of the county executive, works as an assistant corporation counsel, and acts as the Freedom of Information Act appellate officer for the county. Williams previously worked as a civil litigation attorney with Zausmer, August, & Caldwell PC, served as general counsel for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and was an adjunct professor for the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Currently, she teaches Business Law at Wayne County Community College. While earning her law degree, Williams also served as a police officer with the City of Detroit Police Department. 

Williams is a member of the NAACP and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Wayne State University and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

“It is truly an honor to serve the citizens of Wayne County as a judge of the Third Circuit Court,” Williams said. “I have dedicated most of my adult life to public service and this appointment allows me to continue my life’s mission to help others. I enthusiastically look forward to serving as a member of the bench and I am humbled by the opportunity to be of value to my community as a judicial officer.”    

This appointment was made to fill a partial term, which expires at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2021, after Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway stepped down. If Williams wishes to serve the remainder of Hathaway’s term expiring at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2022, she would be required to run for reelection in November of 2020.

Judicial appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

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Attorney Jesse A. Zapczynski recently joined the Transportation Law Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney.

A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Zapczynski focuses his practice on the defense of first- and third-party auto liability, bodily injury, and uninsured and under insured motorist cases on behalf of national insurance companies and their policyholders. Additionally, he has significant experience with ERISA plans and other healthcare coverage potentially affecting these matters, as well as extensive experience investigating and resolving fraudulent motor vehicle liability claims.

Admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Michigan, Zapczynski is a member of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel and the State Bar of Michigan. He is a 2010 graduate of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and a 2007 graduate of Michigan State University.

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the following appointments to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission:

Kimberly Buddin is policy counsel for the ACLU of Michigan and a VAWA/U-Visa pro-bono attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. She earned her law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law. Buddin is reappointed to represent a member submitted by a bar association whose primary mission or purpose is to advocate for minority interests, for a term commencing April 2, 2020 and expiring April 1, 2024.

William W. Swor is an attorney and the principal with Swor and Associates Law Firm and a member of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Board of Directors. He earned his law degree from the Wayne State University Law School. Swor is reappointed to represent members submitted by the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan for a term commencing April 2, 2020 and expiring April 1, 2024.

The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was created as a result of efforts to improve legal representation for indigent criminal defendants. The commission develops and oversees the implementation, enforcement, and modification of minimum standards, rules, and procedures to ensure that indigent criminal defense services providing effective assistance of counsel are delivered to all indigent adults in this state consistent with the safeguards of the United States Constitution, the State Constitution of 1963, and with the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Act.

These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.