By Jim Stickford
Legal News

The path to receiving the Oakland County Bar Association’s Distinguished Public Servant Award began in 2007 at the dinner table for Jeffery Matis, now the chief judge of the Oakland County Circuit Court.

Back then, Matis was enjoying dinner with his wife Kimberly when the talk turned to the state of local politics in the city of Rochester.

“Some things were happening politically on the city council that I didn’t agree with,” Matis said. “I was complaining, and Kimberly suddenly banged the table and told me that if I wanted things to change, I would have to get involved in politics myself. I realized she was right and decided to run for city council. I went door-to-door and got the needed signatures required to be a candidate.”

That year there were 12 candidates running for office, including four incumbents. An August primary trimmed the number of candidates to eight. In November, the regular election was held and Matis garnered the most votes.

“I was told that I received more votes for city council than any candidate in the city’s history at the time,” Matis said.

Becoming involved in local politics wasn’t something Matis aspired to when he was young. He grew up in Oakland County in the 1970s and ‘80s. His father originally worked for a company that did a lot of flying for Chrysler executives. When the recession of the early 1980s hit, the business went under, prompting his father to start his own aviation company out of Detroit City Airport.

“I ended up working for my father and getting my pilot’s license,” Matis said. “I ended up going to Oakland University while working full-time for my father’s company.”

Matis acknowledged that pulling double duty wasn’t easy, but it allowed him to avoid the problems associated with incurring heavy student loan debt. He graduated with a degree in economics in 1990 and decided to go to law school at what is now known as the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Because he was working full-time, Matis attended classes at
night, and it took him four years to graduate.

In his third year of law school, Matis took a clerkship job at the firm then known as Kohl Secrest (now Secrest Wardle). He liked working for the firm because of the breadth of its specialties, including aviation law, a field in which he was very familiar.

Over time, Matis worked for several law firms in metro Detroit, including Garan Lucow Miller and Flood Lanctot. While he was developing his legal career, Matis continued serving on the Rochester City Council.

In 2010, he ran for a seat on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, defeating an incumbent in his first run for county office.  Matis took office in January of 2011 and soon became vice chair of the panel after Chairman Bill Bullard resigned to become county clerk. Bullard’s vice chair, Mike Gingell, then took over as chair.

“It was the first time anyone who was newly elected was asked to take a leadership role,” Matis said of becoming vice chair. “Both parties approved my appointment.

“Being a commissioner was a significant time commitment, almost a full-time job,” added Matis. “You have to have a strong base of support for your family. My wife is incredibly supportive.”

In 2015, Matis then heard that Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Rudy Nichols planned to retire, creating an opportunity for then Governor Rick Snyder to appoint a successor from a field of applicants.

“I was asked if I had anything in my background that would embarrass the governor,” Matis said of the interview process. “I said, ‘Yes, that I was a Lions fan.’ That got a laugh. I can’t believe how things have changed with the Lions since 2015.”

Matis was appointed to the bench in 2015, beginning his new assignment in the Family Division of the Circuit Court before moving to the Civil/Criminal Division.

When Chief Judge Shalina Kumar was appointed to the federal bench in 2021, Matis was chosen by the Michigan Supreme Court to be her successor, and now has about a year left on his second two-year term as chief judge.

Matis said he’s proud of what’s been accomplished during his tenure, particularly the development of the “Problem-Solving Court” programs.

Problem-solving courts focus on providing treatment and intense supervision to offenders as an alternative to incarceration, according to Matis. These include drug and sobriety, mental health, veterans, and other nontraditional courts. The Supreme Court, through its State Court Administrative Office, assists trial court judges in the management of these courts by providing training, education, operational standards, monitoring, certification requirements, and funding, he said.

Matis said the latest statistics he received show that graduates of the court have a recidivism rate of 11 percent compared to a 23 percent recidivism rate for those who don’t graduate or don’t participate in the programs.

“This is good for Oakland County because it keeps our roads safer and it’s good for offenders because they get the help they need,” Matis said. “I am very proud of the court and the work it has done in this area.”

In honoring Matis at its Annual Meeting, the Oakland County Bar Association noted in the awards program: “As the presiding officer of the Circuit Court, Judge Matis collaborated closely with the OCBA to enhance legal practice in Oakland County. To address the backlog of cases in the Circuit Court resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Judge Matis worked with the OCBA to initiate a mass mediation event. He acknowledges the vital role of the local bar association in meeting the needs of the courts and facilitating the administration of justice. Moreover, recognizing the decreased opportunities for new lawyers to gain courtroom experience during the pandemic, Judge Matis mobilized Oakland County judiciary members and staff to support the OCBA in designing and executing a New Lawyer Boot Camp. The initiative aims to familiarize new attorneys with protocols, procedures, and best practices early in their careers.

“In addition to these large-scale efforts, Judge Matis regularly attends OCBA events such as Meet the Judges, Holiday Gala, and OCBF Signature Event, fostering collegiality between the bench and the bar,” it was noted in the awards program. “Most importantly, his approachable and affable demeanor encourages lawyers to seek guidance and mentorship from him.”

Matis said that one of the challenges he faced as chief judge was keeping the court running during the COVID-19 lockdown. The courts had to follow various safety protocols while developing ways to protect the constitutional rights of defendants, he indicated.

Developing procedures to keep the courts running “took a lot of effort on everyone’s part – lawyers, judges, staff,” according to Matis.

“I am proud of the work we’ve done in incorporating technology initiatives,” Matis said. “When I was told by the then president of the Oakland County Bar Association Melinda Deel that I was going to receive the Bar Association’s Distinguished Public Servant Award, I was humbled. There are so many public servants who work hard to help the public. Then when I learned who had previously been given the award. I was really humbled.

“I have always loved the law and have loved serving the public,” Matis declared. “Being able to combine these two things as a judge has been an honor. To be acknowledged for the work has been an honor and a privilege.”