Michigan Supreme Court makes appointments, reappointments to state Attorney Discipline Board

The Michigan Supreme Court (MSC) has announced the reappointments of Grand Blanc attorney Michael B. Rizik, Jr., and Karen D. O’Donoghue (layperson member) to the Attorney Discipline Board for three-year terms ending on Oct. 1, 2022. The Court also announced the appointment of Midland attorney Jonathan E. Lauderbach as Chairperson of the Board, and Michael B. Rizik, Jr., as Vice Chairperson, for one-year terms starting Oct. 1, 2019.

MSC also appointed attorney Michael S. Hohauser, of Troy, to a three-year term on the board, replacing retiring member Rev. Michael Murray of Okemos. Rev. Murray completed his second and final three-year term on the Board, and served as Chair for one-year ending Sept. 30.

The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board is the adjudicative arm of MSC for discharge of its exclusive constitutional responsibility to supervise and discipline Michigan attorneys.  

Jonathan E. Lauderbach, the Board’s new Chairperson, is a partner in the Midland office of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP. Lauderbach has served on the Attorney Discipline Board since 2015 and was vice chairperson in 2018.

A circuit court judge in Midland until March 2013, Lauderbach now focuses his practice at Warner Norcross on litigation and resolution of disputes arising out of commercial transactions and government affairs.

In 2018, Lauderbach was named as a Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Currently, he is recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers.

Lauderbach was one of two attorneys who helped to launch the firm’s Midland office in 2013. The office has grown to 19 attorneys, legal professionals and staff people.

Lauderbach is active in the community as well. In 2018, he was elected to a four-year term on the board of education for the Midland Public Schools. He is a past chair of the board of the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce and has served as a director of Midland Business Alliance.

The Board’s new Vice Chairperson, Michael B. Rizik, Jr., practices law at Rizik & Rizik Attorneys at Law in Grand Blanc, where he focuses his practice on commercial transactions and litigation, family law, serious personal injury cases, and wrongful death litigation. Rizik was appointed to the Board for a three-year term in 2016, and a second three-year term in 2019.

Karen O’Donoghue is one of three layperson members of the Attorney Discipline Board. O’Donoghue is a partner in Taktix Solutions LLC, an independent advisory firm formed in 2002 to evaluate, structure and implement real estate development projects from concept through completion. She was first appointed to the Board for a three-year term in 2016, and a second three-year term in 2019.

The newest attorney member of the Board, Michael S. Hohauser, is a principal at the law firm of Hohauser Kuchon in Troy with over 40 years of experience representing injury victims over a broad range of cases, from automobile negligence through medical malpractice. He graduated from Michigan State University and obtained his law degree from Detroit College of Law. He is an active member of the Oakland County Bar Association, where he has served as secretary, treasurer, president elect and president. Hohauser has also served as a State Bar Commissioner for nine years. Hohauser regularly contributes to legal publications and has received numerous awards honoring his contributions to the legal profession.

He was appointed as a member of the Attorney Discipline Board for a three-year term commencing on Oct. 1, 2019.

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