Association to honor two defense attorneys at awards ceremony
With more than 50 years’ experience in the criminal defense field, and more than four decades of working together, Mitchell Ribitwer and Jerome Sabbota are being honored with the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan’s “Chutzpah Attorney Advocate Award.”
The duo will be recognized for a lifetime of award-winning and impactful work at the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan’s 2025 Annual Awards Ceremony on May 21 at the Somerset Inn in Troy. Also to be honored at the JBAM dinner will be Oakland County Circuit Court Judge David M. Cohen and retired Judge James M. Alexander.
Both former assistant Oakland County prosecutors, Ribitwer and Sabbota have handled high-profile white collar and federal crimes, domestic violence cases and juvenile crimes.
They also provide legal counsel to people subpoenaed by federal grand juries, preparing witnesses ahead of testifying before grand juries in Michigan. JBAM recognizes Ribitwer and Sabbota for their work and tough, smart attitude.
“It’s nearly impossible to fully capture the impact Jerry and Mitch have had on the criminal defense community,” says criminal defense attorney Jordan Zuppke, who serves as current JBAM president. “Through their work at the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Trial College, they’ve educated and mentored hundreds of lawyers.”
Ribitwer and Sabbota have guest-lectured and co-counseled cases with less-experienced attorneys, answering hundreds of questions along the way and providing their guidance.
“I like helping people,” Ribitwer says. “It’s rewarding,” Sabbota adds.
Sabbota jokes that he and Ribitwer have “more than 100 years’ combined” of work in the field, having learned countless lessons and which methods of advocacy work best in which cases.
They also do their part in helping up-and-coming attorneys to excel in the field.
Ribitwer and Sabbota don’t need anything in return. Instead, they simply want to ensure the next generation of criminal defense attorneys in Michigan can keep the field alive and strong.
“We don’t ask for money, we don’t ask for anything in exchange,” Ribitwer says of mentorship. “We’re just happy to get young lawyers on the right path and make sure that they’re going to be competent in law and be a positive person in the community.”
JBAM’s Annual Awards Celebration will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, at the Somerset Inn, 2601 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy. Tickets are $60 for members and $75 for non-members. To purchase tickets, visit jlive.app/events/10533/tickets.
For additional information about JBAM or the dinner, visit JewishBar.org or contact JBAM President Jordan Zuppke at J@ZupacLaw.com or 248-709-7798.
The duo will be recognized for a lifetime of award-winning and impactful work at the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan’s 2025 Annual Awards Ceremony on May 21 at the Somerset Inn in Troy. Also to be honored at the JBAM dinner will be Oakland County Circuit Court Judge David M. Cohen and retired Judge James M. Alexander.
Both former assistant Oakland County prosecutors, Ribitwer and Sabbota have handled high-profile white collar and federal crimes, domestic violence cases and juvenile crimes.
They also provide legal counsel to people subpoenaed by federal grand juries, preparing witnesses ahead of testifying before grand juries in Michigan. JBAM recognizes Ribitwer and Sabbota for their work and tough, smart attitude.
“It’s nearly impossible to fully capture the impact Jerry and Mitch have had on the criminal defense community,” says criminal defense attorney Jordan Zuppke, who serves as current JBAM president. “Through their work at the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Trial College, they’ve educated and mentored hundreds of lawyers.”
Ribitwer and Sabbota have guest-lectured and co-counseled cases with less-experienced attorneys, answering hundreds of questions along the way and providing their guidance.
“I like helping people,” Ribitwer says. “It’s rewarding,” Sabbota adds.
Sabbota jokes that he and Ribitwer have “more than 100 years’ combined” of work in the field, having learned countless lessons and which methods of advocacy work best in which cases.
They also do their part in helping up-and-coming attorneys to excel in the field.
Ribitwer and Sabbota don’t need anything in return. Instead, they simply want to ensure the next generation of criminal defense attorneys in Michigan can keep the field alive and strong.
“We don’t ask for money, we don’t ask for anything in exchange,” Ribitwer says of mentorship. “We’re just happy to get young lawyers on the right path and make sure that they’re going to be competent in law and be a positive person in the community.”
JBAM’s Annual Awards Celebration will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, at the Somerset Inn, 2601 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy. Tickets are $60 for members and $75 for non-members. To purchase tickets, visit jlive.app/events/10533/tickets.
For additional information about JBAM or the dinner, visit JewishBar.org or contact JBAM President Jordan Zuppke at J@ZupacLaw.com or 248-709-7798.
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