On April 10, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a number of appointments.
Judge Cynthia Ward of Lansing and Rebecca Shiemke of Ann Arbor have been appointed to the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board. Ward is a judge for the 54-A District Court in Ingham County. She holds a juris doctor from the Villanova School of Law. Ward succeeds Elizabeth Hines, whose term has expired.
Shiemke is a managing attorney at the Michigan Advocacy Program and has worked for more than 30 years as an attorney in the domestic violence field. Shiemke holds a juris doctor from Wayne State University Law School. Shiemke is reappointed for a term expiring December 4, 2027.
Judge Lisa McCormick of Dimondale has been appointed to the Human Trafficking Commission. She is the chief circuit judge pro tempore on the 30th Judicial Circuit Court in Ingham County. She holds a juris doctor from Cooley Law School. McCormick is reappointed for a term expiring March 1, 2027.??
David Massaron of Detroit has been reappointed to a three-year term on the Regional Transit Authority Board of Directors. Massaron serves as vice president of the Infrastructure and Corporate Citizenship group for General Motors. Previously, Massaron was GM’s chief economic development and real estate officer, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Wayne State University, and budget director for the State of Michigan. Massaron holds a juris doctor from William and Mary Law School.
John Dewane of Williamston has been appointed to a four-year term on the School Safety and Mental Health Commission. The Ingham County Prosecutor, Dewane has worked in the County Prosecutor’s Office since 2001, and most recently served as chief assistant prosecutor before being appointed prosecutor in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. Dewane earned his juris doctor from Cooley Law School.
James McGrath of East Lansing has been named to the Public Health Advisory Council for a three-year term. McGrath is the president, dean, and a professor of law at Cooley Law School. He earned a master of public health from Harvard School of Public Health, a juris doctor from Howard University School of Law, and a master of laws in graduate legal education from Temple University. McGrath succeeds Shenlin Chen, whose term has expired.
Judge Christopher Yates of Grand Rapids has been appointed to the Michigan Sentencing Commission. Judge Yates serves on the Third District of the Michigan Court of Appeals. Yates holds both a master’s in business administration and juris doctor from the University of Illinois. Judge Yates is appointed as chair for a term expiring April 9, 2029. He is appointed as chair for a term expiring April 9, 2029.
The Michigan Sentencing Commission was reestablished by Michigan’s 102nd legislature to collect, prepare, analyze, and disseminate information on sentencing and release policies.
Judge Cynthia Ward of Lansing and Rebecca Shiemke of Ann Arbor have been appointed to the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board. Ward is a judge for the 54-A District Court in Ingham County. She holds a juris doctor from the Villanova School of Law. Ward succeeds Elizabeth Hines, whose term has expired.
Shiemke is a managing attorney at the Michigan Advocacy Program and has worked for more than 30 years as an attorney in the domestic violence field. Shiemke holds a juris doctor from Wayne State University Law School. Shiemke is reappointed for a term expiring December 4, 2027.
Judge Lisa McCormick of Dimondale has been appointed to the Human Trafficking Commission. She is the chief circuit judge pro tempore on the 30th Judicial Circuit Court in Ingham County. She holds a juris doctor from Cooley Law School. McCormick is reappointed for a term expiring March 1, 2027.??
David Massaron of Detroit has been reappointed to a three-year term on the Regional Transit Authority Board of Directors. Massaron serves as vice president of the Infrastructure and Corporate Citizenship group for General Motors. Previously, Massaron was GM’s chief economic development and real estate officer, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Wayne State University, and budget director for the State of Michigan. Massaron holds a juris doctor from William and Mary Law School.
John Dewane of Williamston has been appointed to a four-year term on the School Safety and Mental Health Commission. The Ingham County Prosecutor, Dewane has worked in the County Prosecutor’s Office since 2001, and most recently served as chief assistant prosecutor before being appointed prosecutor in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. Dewane earned his juris doctor from Cooley Law School.
James McGrath of East Lansing has been named to the Public Health Advisory Council for a three-year term. McGrath is the president, dean, and a professor of law at Cooley Law School. He earned a master of public health from Harvard School of Public Health, a juris doctor from Howard University School of Law, and a master of laws in graduate legal education from Temple University. McGrath succeeds Shenlin Chen, whose term has expired.
Judge Christopher Yates of Grand Rapids has been appointed to the Michigan Sentencing Commission. Judge Yates serves on the Third District of the Michigan Court of Appeals. Yates holds both a master’s in business administration and juris doctor from the University of Illinois. Judge Yates is appointed as chair for a term expiring April 9, 2029. He is appointed as chair for a term expiring April 9, 2029.
The Michigan Sentencing Commission was reestablished by Michigan’s 102nd legislature to collect, prepare, analyze, and disseminate information on sentencing and release policies.
