Joining Forces

Two of the newest members of the federal bench shared a smile with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) following their confirmation hearings in Washington, D.C. last fall. Jane Beckering (left), a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals since 2007, became a U.S. District Court judge for the Western District of Michigan after winning Senate confirmation on December 17. Her swearing in ceremony took place December 24 in Grand Rapids with Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker of the Western District administering the oath of office. Shalina Kumar (right), the former chief judge of the Oakland County Circuit Court, was sworn in to the federal bench for the Eastern District of Michigan on December 23 and is based at the U.S. Courthouse in Flint.