On July 23, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointments of five attorneys to various state boards and commissions.
Macomb County Circuit Judge James Maceroni, of Saint Clair Shores, was appointed to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. Maceroni also serves on the State Bar of Michigan Prisons and Corrections Committee and the Criminal Law Committee of the Michigan Judges Association. The Macomb County judge holds a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies in social science from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School. He is appointed as a member submitted by the Michigan Judges Association for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring April 1, 2030. Maceroni succeeds James Fischer, whose term has expired.
Also appointed to the Indigent Defense Commission was Stacia Buchanan, of Lansing, who serves as chief judge of the 54-A District Court. Judge Buchanan is also the secretary of the Michigan District Judges Association and serves on the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Michigan, the Ingham County Indigent Collaborative Committee, and the Community Corrections Advisory Board. Buchanan holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Oakland University and a Juris Doctor from the Michigan State University College of Law. Buchanan is appointed as a member submitted by the Michigan District Judges Association for a term commencing July
23, 2026, and expiring April 1, 2030. Buchanan succeeds Judge Paula Mathes, whose term has expired.
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was created as a result of efforts to improve legal representation for indigent criminal defendants. The Commission develops and oversees the implementation, enforcement, and modification of minimum standards, rules, and procedures to ensure that indigent criminal defense services providing effective assistance of counsel are delivered to all indigent adults in this state consistent with the safeguards of the United States Constitution, the State Constitution of 1963, and with the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Act.
Jim Townsend, of Royal Oak, has been appointed to the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Townsend is the director of the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State University. He also represented the 26th District in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2011-17. Townsend holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School. Townsend will be appointed to represent Democrats for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2028. Townsend also will be designated as Chair for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and expiring at the pleasure of the Governor. Townsend will succeed Jim Ananich, who is resigning.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board ensures the conduct of fair and honest gaming to protect the interests of the citizens of the state of Michigan. The Board provides Detroit commercial casinos gaming operations licensing and regulation, licenses and regulates online gaming and sports betting operators, platform providers and suppliers, regulates pari-mutuel horse racing and casino-style charitable gaming, and audits tribal gaming compact agreement compliance.
Timothy Pinto, of Ann Arbor, has been appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. Pinto is a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School. Pinto previously served as general counsel for the United States Soccer Federation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political economy from Williams College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. Pinto is appointed to represent attorneys involved in both civil and criminal court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect, including individuals involved with the defense as well as the prosecution of such cases, for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2029. Pinto succeeds Nicole Smithson, who has resigned.
Elizabeth Rios-Jones, of Lansing, has been appointed to the Michigan Interagency Council on Homelessness. Rios-Jones is a deputy state court administrator in the Michigan State Court Administrative Office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and sociology and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. Rios-Jones is reappointed to represent courts for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring January 30, 2030.
Macomb County Circuit Judge James Maceroni, of Saint Clair Shores, was appointed to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. Maceroni also serves on the State Bar of Michigan Prisons and Corrections Committee and the Criminal Law Committee of the Michigan Judges Association. The Macomb County judge holds a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies in social science from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School. He is appointed as a member submitted by the Michigan Judges Association for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring April 1, 2030. Maceroni succeeds James Fischer, whose term has expired.
Also appointed to the Indigent Defense Commission was Stacia Buchanan, of Lansing, who serves as chief judge of the 54-A District Court. Judge Buchanan is also the secretary of the Michigan District Judges Association and serves on the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Michigan, the Ingham County Indigent Collaborative Committee, and the Community Corrections Advisory Board. Buchanan holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Oakland University and a Juris Doctor from the Michigan State University College of Law. Buchanan is appointed as a member submitted by the Michigan District Judges Association for a term commencing July
23, 2026, and expiring April 1, 2030. Buchanan succeeds Judge Paula Mathes, whose term has expired.
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was created as a result of efforts to improve legal representation for indigent criminal defendants. The Commission develops and oversees the implementation, enforcement, and modification of minimum standards, rules, and procedures to ensure that indigent criminal defense services providing effective assistance of counsel are delivered to all indigent adults in this state consistent with the safeguards of the United States Constitution, the State Constitution of 1963, and with the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Act.
Jim Townsend, of Royal Oak, has been appointed to the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Townsend is the director of the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State University. He also represented the 26th District in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2011-17. Townsend holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School. Townsend will be appointed to represent Democrats for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2028. Townsend also will be designated as Chair for a term commencing August 1, 2026, and expiring at the pleasure of the Governor. Townsend will succeed Jim Ananich, who is resigning.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board ensures the conduct of fair and honest gaming to protect the interests of the citizens of the state of Michigan. The Board provides Detroit commercial casinos gaming operations licensing and regulation, licenses and regulates online gaming and sports betting operators, platform providers and suppliers, regulates pari-mutuel horse racing and casino-style charitable gaming, and audits tribal gaming compact agreement compliance.
Timothy Pinto, of Ann Arbor, has been appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. Pinto is a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School. Pinto previously served as general counsel for the United States Soccer Federation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political economy from Williams College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. Pinto is appointed to represent attorneys involved in both civil and criminal court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect, including individuals involved with the defense as well as the prosecution of such cases, for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2029. Pinto succeeds Nicole Smithson, who has resigned.
Elizabeth Rios-Jones, of Lansing, has been appointed to the Michigan Interagency Council on Homelessness. Rios-Jones is a deputy state court administrator in the Michigan State Court Administrative Office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and sociology and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. Rios-Jones is reappointed to represent courts for a term commencing July 23, 2026, and expiring January 30, 2030.
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