Gov. makes appointments to Wayne County courts

Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday announced the appointments of Lisa Marie Neilson, of Grosse Pointe Farms, to the Wayne County Probate Court, and Demetria Brue, of Detroit, to the 36th District Court. "Lisa and Demetria will be first-rate additions to their respective courts," said Snyder. "Each woman brings extensive knowledge and valuable experience to the bench, and I am confident they will both make excellent judges." Neilson replaces Judge Cathie B. Maher, who resigned. She is Of Counsel to Dickinson Wright, where she practices family and probate law. She is a former partner of the law firm Zivian & Neilson, and was a staff attorney for Oakland County Probate Court Chief Judge Linda Hallmark. Neilson is also active in professional organizations, including the State Bar of Michigan, the Women's Bar Association, Federalist Society and the Catholic Lawyer's Society. Neilson has a bachelor's degree from Madonna University and received her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Brue replaces Judge Willie G. Lipscomb Jr. who resigned. She serves as assistant prosecutor with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, where she has decades of litigation experience, including felony and misdemeanor trials, preliminary examinations and traffic hearings. Previously she worked as a defense attorney, and as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Oakland County. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the National Black Prosecutors' Association, and the Wolverine Bar Association. Brue received her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a law degree from Wayne State University Law School. Neilson will serve through Jan. 1, 2015, and will have to run for election in November 2014 for the remainder of Maher's term, which expires Dec. 31, 2016. Brue will also serve through Jan. 1, 2015, and will have to run for election in November 2014 for a full term as well. Published: Fri, Aug 24, 2012