Michigan Court of Appeals Chief Judge Michael J. Talbot (Ret.) Joins Bodman PLC as of Counsel
08/07/18
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Michigan Court of Appeals Chief Judge Michael J. Talbot (Ret.) has joined the firm as Of Counsel effective August 3, 2018. He will practice in Bodman’s Detroit office.
He recently retired as Chief Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals and Court of Claims. He was first appointed to the Detroit Common Pleas Court by Governor William Milliken in 1978 and served the people of Michigan on the bench for 40 years.
In 1998, he was appointed to Judge, Michigan First District Court of Appeals, then in 2014 appointed to Chief Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals.
Before then, he served as a judge in Wayne County Circuit Court and Detroit Common Pleas Court, the predecessor to the 36th District Court in Detroit.
During his tenure, Judge Talbot presided in nearly all levels of Michigan courts and also served on the Judicial Tenure Commission. Most notably, from the bench, he has been recognized for his commitment to guarantee victims a place in court and a voice at sentencing. As an administrator, Talbot has been widely praised for his dedicated efforts to transform the 36th District Court into a more efficient, customer-focused high volume urban court while at the same time balancing their budget. He also created a trial court – the Court of Claims – within the Court of Appeals to hear claims against the state and to decide them consistently and fairly.
“We are very pleased that Judge Michael Talbot has chosen to join Bodman as he reenters private practice after 40 years serving on the bench,” stated Bodman PLC Chairman Ralph E. McDowell. “His experience, leadership capabilities and reputation as a thoughtful and talented jurist will be invaluable resources to our clients and attorneys and we are honored to have him as part of our firm.”
Off the bench, among many other volunteer commitments, Talbot has chaired the Detroit Archdiocese Board of Review dealing with misconduct claims, was past chair of the Archdiocese Board of Education, and served as a trustee of Madonna University, Sacred Heart Seminary, and the Archdiocese Endowment Fund. In May, 2018 Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Talbot to the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board.
“I am excited to join Bodman and put my judicial experience to work in a different way,” states Michael J. Talbot. “Bodman is a long-standing and respected firm and I look forward to being a resource to the firm’s attorneys and clients and working alongside such a talented group of people.”