Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced on Tuesday the appointments of Susan Metzger to the Van Buren County Probate Court, Amanda Pollard to Eaton County Probate Court, Ellsworth Stay to the 78th District Court (Newaygo and Lake Counties), and Michael Ekdahl to the 89th District Court (Presque Isle and Cheboygan Counties).
“Today, I am proud to appoint Susan, Amanda, Ellsworth, and Michael to Michigan’s bench,” said Whitmer. “Each of these new judges are experienced legal minds who are dedicated to serving their community with humility, compassion, and respect for the rule of law. They each bring a wealth of experience to their service and I am confident they will serve with distinction and inspire confidence in the integrity and professionalism of our courts.”
Van Buren County Probate Court
Susan Metzger is a solo practitioner with a primary practice of domestic relations mediation and arbitration. Additionally, she is contracted with the Van Buren County Courts for the Juvenile Court and a defense attorney for Van Buren County Women’s Treatment Court, Family Reunification Court, and Sobriety Court. Previously, she worked as an attorney for Laaksonen Law Offices, Miller Johnson, and the 10th Circuit Court of the State of Michigan (Chief Judge Leopold P. Borrello).
Metzger received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from the College of Charleston and her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
“I am deeply grateful to Gov. Whitmer for appointing me to the Van Buren County Probate Court,” Metzger stated. “As judge, I will be committed to nurturing trust and administering justice with fairness, compassion, and integrity, with the goal of enhancing our community's wellbeing.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge David J. DiStefano. Metzger’s term will commence on March 18, 2024, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025.
Eaton County Probate Court
Amanda Pollard is an attorney referee and Juvenile Division director for the 56th Circuit Court, Family Division. She served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office and an associate attorney for Gaydos and Leckie, PLLC prior to this role. She is the co-chair of the Legislative and Court Rules Committee for MAFCA’s Executive Board, an advisory board member for the Youth Defense Project, the Secretary for the Children’s Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, and liaison to the Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Pollard is an active participant in local organizations and within the legal community in the areas of juvenile justice reform, community engagement, and equitable legal representation.
Pollard received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Ball State University and her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law.
“I thank Gov. Whitmer for this tremendous opportunity and appointment to serve as the Probate Judge for Eaton County,” Pollard stated. “I look forward to serving the people of our community in this new role, providing fair and timely decisions on all legal matters, and continuing my practice of treating all who appear with equity and dignity.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Thomas K. Byerley. Pollard’s term will commence on March 4, 2024, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025.
78th District Court – Newaygo and Lake Counties
Ellsworth Stay, Jr. is the elected prosecuting attorney for Newaygo County, a position he has held since 2017. He has served the people of Newaygo County in various capacities for over 20 years including as Trial Court Director/Friend of the Court and as chief assistant prosecuting attorney. He serves on the board of directors of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.
Ellsworth received his Bachelor of Arts in American Government from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor from Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
“I am thankful and honored to receive this appointment from Gov. Whitmer,” Stay stated. “I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of the 78th District with dedication and professionalism. I will seek to make decisions that are impartial and just while treating those who come before the court with fairness and respect”.
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Kevin Drake. Stay’s term will commence on April 1, 2024, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025.
89th District Court – Presque Isle and Cheboygan Counties
Michael Ekdahl is a solo practitioner with an emphasis on criminal defense, as well as civil litigation, divorce, and estate planning. He is also general counsel for Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op in Onaway. Ekdahl was a founding member of the 53rd Circuit Court Sobriety Court Team and is the past president of the Cheboygan/ Presque Isle County Bar Association. He is also the past president of the Cheboygan Lions Club, a past board of directors' member of the Cheboygan Area Arts Council, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Straits Area Federal Credit Union.
After graduating from Cheboygan Area High School, Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School.
“I want to thank Gov. Whitmer and her team for all of their work in this appointment process,” Ekdahl stated. “I am incredibly honored and humbled to be selected and look forward to serving the people of Cheboygan and Presque Isle Counties as 89th District Court Judge. I promise to faithfully discharge my duties to the best of my ability, and to treat all who appear before the Court fairly and with dignity and respect.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Maria Barton. Ekdahl’s term will commence on March 18, 2024, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025.
“Today, I am proud to appoint Susan, Amanda, Ellsworth, and Michael to Michigan’s bench,” said Whitmer. “Each of these new judges are experienced legal minds who are dedicated to serving their community with humility, compassion, and respect for the rule of law. They each bring a wealth of experience to their service and I am confident they will serve with distinction and inspire confidence in the integrity and professionalism of our courts.”
Van Buren County Probate Court
Susan Metzger is a solo practitioner with a primary practice of domestic relations mediation and arbitration. Additionally, she is contracted with the Van Buren County Courts for the Juvenile Court and a defense attorney for Van Buren County Women’s Treatment Court, Family Reunification Court, and Sobriety Court. Previously, she worked as an attorney for Laaksonen Law Offices, Miller Johnson, and the 10th Circuit Court of the State of Michigan (Chief Judge Leopold P. Borrello).
Metzger received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from the College of Charleston and her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
“I am deeply grateful to Gov. Whitmer for appointing me to the Van Buren County Probate Court,” Metzger stated. “As judge, I will be committed to nurturing trust and administering justice with fairness, compassion, and integrity, with the goal of enhancing our community's wellbeing.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge David J. DiStefano. Metzger’s term will commence on March 18, 2024, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025.
Eaton County Probate Court
Amanda Pollard is an attorney referee and Juvenile Division director for the 56th Circuit Court, Family Division. She served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office and an associate attorney for Gaydos and Leckie, PLLC prior to this role. She is the co-chair of the Legislative and Court Rules Committee for MAFCA’s Executive Board, an advisory board member for the Youth Defense Project, the Secretary for the Children’s Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, and liaison to the Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Pollard is an active participant in local organizations and within the legal community in the areas of juvenile justice reform, community engagement, and equitable legal representation.
Pollard received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Ball State University and her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law.
“I thank Gov. Whitmer for this tremendous opportunity and appointment to serve as the Probate Judge for Eaton County,” Pollard stated. “I look forward to serving the people of our community in this new role, providing fair and timely decisions on all legal matters, and continuing my practice of treating all who appear with equity and dignity.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Thomas K. Byerley. Pollard’s term will commence on March 4, 2024, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025.
78th District Court – Newaygo and Lake Counties
Ellsworth Stay, Jr. is the elected prosecuting attorney for Newaygo County, a position he has held since 2017. He has served the people of Newaygo County in various capacities for over 20 years including as Trial Court Director/Friend of the Court and as chief assistant prosecuting attorney. He serves on the board of directors of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.
Ellsworth received his Bachelor of Arts in American Government from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor from Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
“I am thankful and honored to receive this appointment from Gov. Whitmer,” Stay stated. “I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of the 78th District with dedication and professionalism. I will seek to make decisions that are impartial and just while treating those who come before the court with fairness and respect”.
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Kevin Drake. Stay’s term will commence on April 1, 2024, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025.
89th District Court – Presque Isle and Cheboygan Counties
Michael Ekdahl is a solo practitioner with an emphasis on criminal defense, as well as civil litigation, divorce, and estate planning. He is also general counsel for Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op in Onaway. Ekdahl was a founding member of the 53rd Circuit Court Sobriety Court Team and is the past president of the Cheboygan/ Presque Isle County Bar Association. He is also the past president of the Cheboygan Lions Club, a past board of directors' member of the Cheboygan Area Arts Council, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Straits Area Federal Credit Union.
After graduating from Cheboygan Area High School, Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School.
“I want to thank Gov. Whitmer and her team for all of their work in this appointment process,” Ekdahl stated. “I am incredibly honored and humbled to be selected and look forward to serving the people of Cheboygan and Presque Isle Counties as 89th District Court Judge. I promise to faithfully discharge my duties to the best of my ability, and to treat all who appear before the Court fairly and with dignity and respect.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Maria Barton. Ekdahl’s term will commence on March 18, 2024, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025.
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