Oakland judge named to Court of Appeals

Colleen O’Brien, an Oakland County Circuit Court judge with more than 30 years of legal experience, has been named to the state Court of Appeals by Gov. Rick Snyder.

“Colleen has served with distinction in one of the state’s largest trial courts for 16 years handling complex civil, criminal, and family law cases,” Snyder said Tuesday.  “As the president of the Michigan Judges Association, she is an important leader in our state’s judiciary.”

O’Brien, of Clarkston, fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Pat Donofrio. She must seek election in 2016 in order to serve a full, six-year term.

O’Brien has been on the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County since being elected in 1998 and is the presiding judge of the Oakland Civil-Criminal Division.

Prior to serving as a judge, O’Brien was in private practice as an attorney at Cummings, McClorey, Davis, & Achos in Southfield and has experience with three other Detroit-area law firms.