The Detroit Bar Association welcomed its slate of 2019-20 officers on Thursday at the Detroit Golf Club during its annual meeting.
Incoming officers and board members include:
• Joanne Geha Swanson, president – Kerr Russel;
• Brian Summerfield, past president – Kostopoulos Rodriguez, PLLC;
• Daniel Shirey, president-elect – Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook;
• Robert Murkowski, Secretary/Treasurer – Miller Canfield;
Elected directors
• Zenell Brown – 3rd Circuit Court Administrator;
• Tishia Browning – Wayne State University Law School;
Appointed directors
• Hon. Demetria Brue – 36th District Court;
• Stephen Cowan – Jones Day;
• Darius Dynkowski – Ackerman, Ackerman & Dynkowski;
• Joseph Muzingo – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan;
• Kimberly Yourchock – Honigman
The Detroit Bar Association also honored a number of legal leaders for their exceptional service:
Alan T. Ackerman received the Frank Murphy Award in recognition of his leadership and service, which exemplify the highest professional ideals and demonstration of outstanding service to the legal profession.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig received the Liberty Bell Award in recognition of outstanding service performed by a non-lawyer citizen who has given his time and energy to strengthen the effectiveness of the American system of freedom under law, in keeping with the spirit of our Constitution.
Leo Nouhan received the Detroit Bar President’s Award for his outstanding leadership and continued support of the Detroit Bar Foundation’s Archer Award Gala.
Louis Theros of MGM Grand received the Committee of the Year Award in appreciation for outstanding leadership while chairing the Fellows Committee for many years.
The Pro Bono Service Award went to Foley & Lardner and was presented to Jeff Kopp and Leah Imbrogno for their team’s hard work in volunteering for the Detroit Legal Service Clinic. To work for the common good is the noblest creed. To do so with excellence is the highest accomplishment.
Drawing from the example of the Nobel Foundation in Sweden the Detroit Bar Legal Scholar Program was established to recognize each year original legal work product that advances the field of law and offers the application of new ideas that address the social, educational, economic and/or human advancement of the State of Michigan. This year’s Mega Question addressed: “How could current legal/judicial tools and/or new ones be innovatively applied to optimize investment for economic growth and advancement of the residents of Michigan and then serve as a model nationally?”
The award was presented to two recipients this year:
• Cheryl Verran Jordan, Wayne County’s Department of Corporation Counsel, for her work entitled, “Legalizing Local Option Sales Tax for Public Transit Could be the Key to Michigan Economic Growth.”
• Kaitlyn Mardeusz, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Office of the General Counsel, for her work entitled, “A Balancing of Traditional and Modern Approaches to Strengthening Michigan's Economy.”
Additionally, Detroit Bar Barristers Section and Third Circuit Court Law Day honorees included: Ethan Hall, University of Detroit High School (first place high school essay winner), and Esmeralda Hermosillo, Cristo Rey High School (high school scholarship winner, sponsored by Butzel Long).
“Every year, this event celebrates the best and brightest in our Detroit Bar Association. It is truly an honor to recognize the exceptional efforts and remarkable volunteerism of these legal professionals,” observed Detroit Bar Association Executive Director Darlene Trudell.
Sponsors for the 2019 Detroit Bar Association Annual Meeting include: Detroit Bar Premier Sponsors: Certified Service Professionals, Core Litigation, Dickinson Wright and Kitch, Patron Sponsors: Bush Seyferth & Paige, Dykema, Ogletree Deakins & Varnum, Sustaining Sponsors: Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski, Bodman, Butzel Long, DTE Energy, Foster Swift, Honigman, Jaffe, Kerr Russell & Weber, Kostopolous Rodrigues, Records Deposition Service, US Legal Support, Gold Sponsor: Hour Media & Varnum, Diamond Sponsors: Certified Service Professionals, JAMS, Kitch, Michigan Lawyer's Weekly, Ruby Sponsors: Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Care Network, Law & ADR Offices of Christopher J. Webb.
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