ABJM Proudly Congratulates Hon. Jonathan Grey on his confirmation to The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
On March 2, 2023 the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey to be the U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Judge Grey was nominated by President Biden on September 2, 2022. On November 30, 2022, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing considering his nomination. A video of Senator Peters’ remarks can be found here, and a video of Senator Stabenow’s remarks can be found here. On February 9, 2023 the Judiciary Committee advanced Judge Grey’s nomination on a bipartisan vote.
“Judge Grey will bring strong legal experience and a commitment to upholding the rule of law,” said Senator Peters. “I’m proud to have supported his confirmation and look forward to seeing him honorably serve on the federal bench.”
“I can think of no better place for Judge Grey to continue to serve the people of Michigan than on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. His experience and thoughtfulness make him a great fit. His confirmation is wonderful news for Michigan,” said Senator Stabenow.
Jonathan J.C. Grey has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan since 2021. Judge Grey previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio from 2016 to 2021 and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan from 2012 to 2016. From 2011 to 2012 and 2007 to 2009, he was an associate at Seyfath Shaw LLP in Chicago, Illinois. Judge Grey served as a law clerk for Judge Damon J. Keith on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 2010 to 2011 and Judge W. Louis Sands on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia from 2009 to 2010. Judge Grey received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2007 and B.S. from Morehouse College in 2004.
Judge Grey’s nomination received bipartisan support, getting votes from four Republican senators: Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. The U.S. Senate voted 49-42
Congratulations Judge Grey ABJM is very proud of you, and we look forward to celebrating your accomplishment.
Hon. Denise Langford Morris Years of Service Recognized on Local News
She’s one of Metro Detroit’s true trailblazers.
A career of firsts was punctuated by being the first African-American appointed to the Oakland County Circuit Court. She then became the first Black elected leader countywide in Oakland County.
Denise Langford-Morris kept on winning.
Spending 30 years on the Oakland County Circuit Court bench until she recently retired.
“My dad was the one who wanted to be a lawyer and my dad told me that you could do and be whatever you wanted to be,” she said. Not only would Victor Langford’s girl become a lawyer, she became the barrier-breaking kind.
The first black prosecutor hired by L. Brooks Patterson. “When I walked in there wasn’t an African American secretary, clerk, boss, lawyer, no one.” It didn’t phase her.
“My parents always had friends of all races and if you met my mother you probably wouldn’t know she’s black, my mother looked like a little old Jewish lady but she was the blackest woman I know and she encouraged us to be welcoming and to know people are people.”
Her mother Plennie’s activism in the 60′s and 70′s made her daughter fearless and empathetic. “She took me to march with Dr. King, she took me to NOW organization meetings in Detroit, to Erma Henderson’s Conference of Concerned Women.”
Before becoming a lawyer, she started in social work. Protecting the elderly and children but knew she could do more.
She enrolled at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She was so well regarded in Oakland County she got the call from Governor John Engler in 1992. He wanted to appoint her to the Oakland County Circuit Court. The first black judge in the county. “I was welcomed, I knew the judges because I practiced in front of them.” Getting an appointment is one thing, wining an election is another. “I said I am going to win. I’m going to do everything in my power. The governor gave me this opportunity, I’m the first African American in the Oakland County bench and I’m going to win there’s no other option.”
She won her race in 1994 and every race after becoming the first female dean of the Oakland County bench.
Today her portrait hangs on the wall of her alma mater where she graciously donates her time. The students wanted to honor her, not simply because of her career of firsts but all the time and care she has lavished on them.
While her time on the bench has ended, she retired for all of a weekend. She’s using those judicial muscles in a new capacity at JAM the largest private mediation firm in the world. “I feel that I want to work as long as I’m able. I never want to not work. In fact, if you hear I’m not working I want you to come check on me because something is wrong.”
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Click here to watch the interview Detroit trailblazer: Retired Oakland County official Denise Langford-Morris keeps on winning (clickondetroit.com)