Ann Arbor—Longtime Ann Arbor City Attorney, Stephen K. Postema, plans to retire from that position on March 11, as he advised the Ann Arbor City Council over a year ago. Postema, a native Ann Arborite, was appointed City Attorney in 2003, and is the longest serving City Attorney since City adopted the City Charter in 1956 and the position was brought in-house. He advises the Mayor, City Council, and City Administrator and others and oversees the 14 person City Attorney Office.
His successor as City Attorney, Ann Arbor attorney Atleen Kaur, who currently works in the private sector, was selected as part of a succession plan in November and will begin in April.
“It has been an honor to serve as the City Attorney for my hometown,” Postema said in a press release. “In these chaotic times, local governance is extremely important, and the legal issues presented are a constant source of challenge. I am deeply grateful for the trust the City Council has had in me over almost two decades, but I credit any success in this position directly to the dedicated, professional, and talented attorneys and staff in the City Attorney’s Office.”
As one of only two direct reports to the City Council, Postema has served an important function as a steady source of advice and counsel, with a wide understanding of the City’s functions. During his 19-year tenure. he has provided continuity in the City during the constant change at the political and leadership level, advising: five City Administrators, two mayors, over forty Councilmembers, six police Chiefs, six fire chiefs, four Human Resources Directors, and numerous Service Area Administrators.
By Resolution on August 16, 2021, the City Council recognized his “excellent leadership.” The most recent public summary review of his work by an outside consultant for the City Council concluded: “Council members appreciate Mr. Postema’s dedication, ethical behavior, professional manner, extensive legal knowledge, rigorous analysis and advice, ability to attract and retain staff, and ability to effectively manage litigation related matters.”
Under his direction, the City’s legal department has established important legal precedent in both state and federal court, in areas of employment law, negligence, governmental immunity, qualified immunity, property taxation, Freedom of Information Act, and constitutional law. Postema regularly argued the City’s positions in the Washtenaw Circuit Court, U.S. District Court, Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Sixth Circuit. He also has written amicus briefs on other important municipal issues.
A patient mediator and resolver of disputes, Postema regularly resolved complicated disputes on behalf of the City. As an administrator, Postema re-organized the Office when he started and carefully selected the attorneys and staff. He also mentored over one hundred law students through an internship program he established and supervised.
Postema has also been active in state-wide municipal work and has been generous with his time in discussing municipal legal issues with other city attorneys. After only three years as Ann Arbor City Attorney, he was elected in 2006 to the Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys and remained on the Board until 2013, serving two terms as the President of the Board. He continues in an advisory function as a Past President. He also served eight years on the Michigan Municipal League’s Legal Defense Fund, assisting with legal strategy on cases impacting municipalities across the state. He also has served on the employment, negligence, and commercial case evaluation panels for the Washtenaw County Circuit Court for the past several decades.
Postema also served for a decade as the Chairman of MAMA’s legislative committee, and worked diligently on legislative reforms. He received the Outstanding Service Award from the MML at its 2012 Capital Conference for his work on state and federal legislative issues. He was selected as a “Leader in the Law” in Michigan by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in 2013. “He’s one of the outstanding city attorneys in the state,” reported Bill Mathewson, the Michigan Municipal League’s general counsel to the Ann Arbor Observer.
Postema has been a speaker on municipal law topics to municipal attorneys and officials and has taught a law school seminar on state and local government law.
A practicing attorney since 1985, Postema plans to take time off in 2022 and take care of family matters. He plans to return to private practice in 2023 and provide legal consultation to municipalities, provide private mediation and facilitation services, take select matters, and do pro bono legal work. He will determine the scope and logistics of this practice later this year.
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