James M. Gallagher
Tell us about yourself:
I've lived in Ann Arbor since my parents moved here when I was 3 years old. I attended AAPS K-12 and graduated from Huron High School in 1986. Go River Rats! After graduating from Michigan State University, I worked in the IT field for several companies and then worked for Ford/Visteon in the area of supply chain management. I then decided to make a career change and obtained a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law at the ripe young age of 40. I've been an attorney for approximately 14 years, which has consisted of about 12 years in private practice primarily in the areas of criminal defense and family law, and several years with the Washtenaw County Public Defender's Office. In December 2022, I was extremely fortunate to begin work as the judicial attorney for the Hon. Arianne E. Slay and have been thoroughly enjoying it.
Tell us a little about your family:
My wife (Kristina) and I have been married for 31 years. We have two children, Devon and Whitney, who are 24 and 21 years old, respectively. We are truly a house divided, our son and I are proud graduates of MSU, while my wife is a proud graduate of U-M, and our daughter is currently a senior at U-M.
What is your favorite movie or book?
I've always had difficulty selecting one movie as my favorite because there are quite a number of movies that I really like. Some of my all-time favorites include "A River Runs Through It," "Fried Green Tomatoes," "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," and several Civil War movies ("Gettysburg" and "Glory"). During COVID-19, I have to admit I became addicted to "Ozark" and "Shameless."
Describe a perfect day off:
My wife and I have a small place on a lake in the Irish Hills area. The perfect day is sitting on the dock in the summertime with my wife, our kids, and two dogs.
What are some favorite places you have visited?
I'm a warm weather person, favorites include Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
What are your favorite local hangouts?
I don't get out much but when I do I like going to Casey's Tavern, Depot Town in Ypsilanti, or any restaurant/bar on Main Street in Ann Arbor in the summertime.
When you have a little extra money, where do you like to spend it?
Amazon, purchasing tools, or anything for our place on the lake.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
During the summertime you can pretty much find me out at our place on the lake in the Irish Hills. I enjoy minor home repair projects. I am also somewhat of a sports addict and watch quite a bit of college/professional football, basketball, and hockey. My apologies to the baseball fans out there, I am not real fond of baseball, though I keep an eye on our beloved Tigers.
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Reprinted from Res Ipsa Loquitur with permission from the Washtenaw County Bar Association.
