Chief judge to be honored with annual Archer Award
By Tom Kirvan
Legal News
He is a man with a diverse and robust legal background in positions of note on the federal and county levels, where he has worked with some of the most prominent figures in the state – U.S. District Judge Damon J. Keith, Governor Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Attorney Stephen Markman, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, among others.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, Chief Judge Edward Ewell Jr. of the Wayne County Circuit Court will have his own name etched in legal lore when he is honored as the 2026 recipient of the annual Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award, an accolade that will be formally presented during a gala event at the Detroit Yacht Club
“Since 2003, this award has been reserved for the best of the best of Michigan’s legal profession – extraordinary lawyers and judges who have established careers dedicated to the betterment of our profession and our community,” said Sheena Law-Killinger, director of Events and Programs for the Detroit Bar Association.
Judge Ewell’s selection aligns with a career defined by extensive civic commitment and judicial integrity. A graduate of the University of Michigan, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1981, Ewell went on to complete his Juris Doctor at the Wayne State University Law School.
His formative professional years laid a strong foundation in public interest and federal law. Notably, Ewell served as a law clerk for the legendary Judge Damon Keith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit—a towering figure in civil rights jurisprudence whose influence left an indelible mark on Ewell's career path.
Following his clerkship, Ewell transitioned to federal practice, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in Detroit, where he handled complex matters across both the civil and criminal divisions. He later brought his administrative and legal acumen to local government, where he rose to the rank of Corporation Counsel for Wayne County, handling myriad responsibilities while overseeing a staff of 40 attorneys and a multi-million-dollar budget.
Ewell’s judicial career officially began in 2003 when he was appointed to the Third Judicial Circuit Court. Over more than two decades on the bench, he has maintained the trust of the electorate, securing successful re-elections in 2012, 2018, and most recently in November 2024, ensuring his current term runs through January 1, 2031. His career culminated in his elevation to Chief Judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court, where he manages administrative operations for one of the busiest trial courts in the state of Michigan.
Ewell, who majored in economics at U-M and holds a master’s degree from Atlanta University, grew up on the east side of Detroit. He was the product of a single-parent home headed by his mother, Beverly, who worked in a managerial role with the Michigan Department of Corrections before retiring. A Cass Tech grad, Ewell played football for the Detroit high school on a team that included such U-M stalwarts as running back Harlan Huckleby and defensive standout Curtis Greer, both of whom played in the NFL.
The upcoming gala will feature prominent local figures paying tribute to Ewell's lifetime of achievement. Darren Cunningham, a well-known reporter from 7 News Detroit (WXYZ), is slated to serve as the evening's emcee.
Beyond celebrating Ewell's career, the Archer Award event serves a vital operational purpose for the region’s legal safety net. The event stands as a major fundraiser for the Detroit Bar Association Foundation.
Organizers have confirmed that 90 percent of all proceeds generated from the evening—including ticket sales and contributions from corporate sponsors—are directly allocated to funding pro-bono legal services, free legal clinics, educational student activities, and broader community outreach programs throughout the Detroit metropolitan area.
With tickets priced at $175 for the general public, the event relies heavily on regional support to continue its mission. Silver sponsors for this year's gala represent a broad coalition of Michigan organizations, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Dykema, Plunkett Cooney, and the Wayne State University Law School.
Ewell joins an elite roster of past recipients who have left a permanent mark on Michigan’s civic landscape, including former Detroit Mayors Dennis Archer and Mike Duggan, former Senator Carl Levin, and his early mentor, Judge Keith. In recent years, the award recipients have included former American Bar Association President Reginald Turner Jr. (2022), former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary McCormack (2023), Wayne County Circuit Judge Patricia Perez Fresard (2024), and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans (2025).
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