On July 23, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointments of five attorneys to various state boards and commissions.
Stacia Buchanan, of Lansing, chief judge of the 54-A District Court., was appointed to the Indigent Defense Commission. Judge Buchanan is also secretary of the Michigan District Judges Association and serves on the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Michigan, the Ingham County Indigent Collaborative Committee, and the Community Corrections Advisory Board.
Buchanan holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Oakland University and a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law. Buchanan is appointed as a member submitted by the Michigan District Judges Association for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring April 1, 2030. Buchanan succeeds Judge Paula Mathes, whose term has expired.
Also appointed to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was Macomb County Circuit Judge James Maceroni, of Saint Clair Shores.
He is appointed as a member submitted by the Michigan Judges Association for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring April 1, 2030. Maceroni succeeds James Fischer, whose term has expired.
Timothy Pinto, of Ann Arbor, has been appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. Pinto is a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School. Pinto previously served as general counsel for the United States Soccer Federation.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political economy from Williams College and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Pinto is appointed to represent attorneys involved in both civil and criminal court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect, including individuals involved with the defense as well as the prosecution of such cases, for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2029. Pinto succeeds Nicole Smithson, who has resigned.
Elizabeth Rios-Jones, of Lansing, has been appointed to the Michigan Interagency Council on Homelessness. Rios-Jones is a deputy state court administrator in the Michigan State Court Administrative Office.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and sociology and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Rios-Jones is reappointed to represent courts for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring January 30, 2030.
Jim Townsend, of Royal Oak, has been appointed to the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Townsend is the director of the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State University. He also represented the 26th District in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2011-17.
Townsend holds a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School. He will be appointed to represent Democrats for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2028.
He also will be designated as Chair for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and expiring at the pleasure of the Governor. He succeeds Jim Ananich, who is resigning.
Stacia Buchanan, of Lansing, chief judge of the 54-A District Court., was appointed to the Indigent Defense Commission. Judge Buchanan is also secretary of the Michigan District Judges Association and serves on the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Michigan, the Ingham County Indigent Collaborative Committee, and the Community Corrections Advisory Board.
Buchanan holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Oakland University and a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law. Buchanan is appointed as a member submitted by the Michigan District Judges Association for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring April 1, 2030. Buchanan succeeds Judge Paula Mathes, whose term has expired.
Also appointed to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was Macomb County Circuit Judge James Maceroni, of Saint Clair Shores.
He is appointed as a member submitted by the Michigan Judges Association for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring April 1, 2030. Maceroni succeeds James Fischer, whose term has expired.
Timothy Pinto, of Ann Arbor, has been appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. Pinto is a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School. Pinto previously served as general counsel for the United States Soccer Federation.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political economy from Williams College and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Pinto is appointed to represent attorneys involved in both civil and criminal court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect, including individuals involved with the defense as well as the prosecution of such cases, for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2029. Pinto succeeds Nicole Smithson, who has resigned.
Elizabeth Rios-Jones, of Lansing, has been appointed to the Michigan Interagency Council on Homelessness. Rios-Jones is a deputy state court administrator in the Michigan State Court Administrative Office.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and sociology and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Rios-Jones is reappointed to represent courts for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring January 30, 2030.
Jim Townsend, of Royal Oak, has been appointed to the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Townsend is the director of the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State University. He also represented the 26th District in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2011-17.
Townsend holds a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School. He will be appointed to represent Democrats for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2028.
He also will be designated as Chair for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and expiring at the pleasure of the Governor. He succeeds Jim Ananich, who is resigning.
