United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
About This Court
The Eastern District of Michigan is one of two federal judicial districts in Michigan, covering the southeastern portion of the state. The district includes major population centers such as Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor, and Bay City, and encompasses some of the most densely populated counties in the state. It operates within the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The district is headquartered in Detroit and maintains additional divisional offices to serve litigants across its geographic territory. Given the industrial and commercial history of the region, the court handles a broad range of civil and criminal matters reflecting the economic and demographic character of southeastern Michigan.
As one of the busier federal district courts in the Sixth Circuit, the Eastern District of Michigan carries a substantial docket. The court has been the forum for significant litigation involving the automotive industry, labor law, civil rights, and complex criminal matters.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Divisions
Northern Division (Bay City), Southern Division (Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor)
Caseload
The Eastern District of Michigan handles a high volume of civil and criminal cases, with notable concentrations in areas such as automotive industry disputes, labor and employment matters, civil rights litigation, and federal criminal prosecutions arising from one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Midwest.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Eastern District of Michigan by submitting an application and demonstrating membership in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan or another jurisdiction, subject to the court's local rules.
Clerk's Office
231 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 234-5000
Active Judges 23
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frances Behm | Joseph R. Biden | 2022 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Terrence Berg | Barack Obama | 2012 | Georgetown University Law Center |
| Paul Borman | William J. Clinton | 1994 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Robert Cleland | George H.W. Bush | 1990 | University of North Carolina School of Law |
| Sean Cox | George W. Bush | 2006 | Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law) |
| Susan DeClercq | Joseph R. Biden | 2023 | Wayne State University Law School |
| Gershwin Drain | Barack Obama | 2012 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Nancy Edmunds | George H.W. Bush | 1992 | Wayne State University Law School |
| Bernard Friedman | Ronald Reagan | 1988 | Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law) |
| Mark Goldsmith | Barack Obama | 2010 | Harvard Law School |
| Jonathan Grey | Joseph R. Biden | 2023 | Georgetown University Law Center |
| Denise Hood | William J. Clinton | 1994 | Columbia Law School |
| Shalina Kumar | Joseph R. Biden | 2021 | University of Detroit Mercy School of Law |
| David Lawson | William J. Clinton | 2000 | Wayne State University Law School |
| Matthew Leitman | Barack Obama | 2014 | Harvard Law School |
| Judith Levy | Barack Obama | 2014 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Thomas Ludington | George W. Bush | 2006 | University of San Diego School of Law |
| Brandy McMillion | Joseph R. Biden | 2023 | George Washington University Law School |
| Laurie Michelson | Barack Obama | 2014 | Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law) |
| Stephen Murphy | George W. Bush | 2008 | St. Louis University School of Law |
| Linda Parker | Barack Obama | 2014 | George Washington University Law School |
| George Steeh | William J. Clinton | 1998 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Robert White | Joseph R. Biden | 2024 | Chicago-Kent College of Law |
Local Rules
The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.