Davis sworn in as U.S. District judge for Eastern Michigan

Federal Magistrate Judge Stephanie Dawkins Davis was sworn in late Tuesday as the newest U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Davis, surrounded by family members and friends, was sworn in around 6 p.m. by Chief U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood in the historic courtroom at the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in downtown Detroit.

Davis, the first female African American judge to be nominated by President Donald Trump, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 19. Her commission was signed Tuesday afternoon by the president.

Courtrooms were closed Tuesday because of New Year's Eve, but the court security staff turned on the lights so the ceremony could be held.

"I am extremely humbled and honored to receive the appointment," Davis said afterward. "Serving the cause of justice has been my life's work and I appreciate the trust that has been placed in me. I will diligently apply the law and honor the humanity of all who appear before me."

Hood also was pleased.

"Our court welcomes her with open arms," Hood said. "We are very proud of her work as a magistrate judge and I look forward to working with her as a colleague."

Davis was born Kansas City, Mo., and raised in Kansas City, Kan. After graduating from high school, she received associate and bachelor's degrees from Wichita State University in 1988 and 1989 and a law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1992.

Afterward, she worked as an associate lawyer for the Dickinson, Wright law firm in Detroit from 1992 to 1997, and joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1997 to 2016. The Court appointed her federal magistrate in 2016.

Davis, 52, is married to Grant A. Davis, an engineer for an automotive company.

Together they have three adult children, Kienuwa, Maya and Gyasi.

She will continue serving at the U.S. Courthouse in Flint.



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