Judges

Judge Cavanagh was elected to the Court in 1988. Previously, he worked as a special assistant attorney general, as an assistant Wayne County prosecutor, and as an attorney in private practice. Judge Cavanagh received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the Detroit College of Law.

Term expires January 1, 2015.

 

Of Macomb Township; Judge Donofrio was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2002 and elected in 2004 and 2010. He previously served as a Macomb County Circuit Court Judge after appointment and election in 1997 and 1998 respectively. From 1998 until appointment to the Michigan Court of Appeals he served as the presiding judge of the civil/criminal division of the circuit court. Judge Donofrio received a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University in 1967 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Wayne State University Law School in 1970. At the time of entry into the judiciary, Judge Donofrio served as president of a major litigation law firm. Judge Donofrio is a member of the Michigan Judges Association, American Judges Association, the State Bar of Michigan and several local bar associations. He currently sits on the executive board of the Michigan Judges Association. He sat on the Judicial Crossroads Task Force, a sanctioned independent organization endeavoring to create structural efficiencies and reduce costs across the entire judiciary. Judge Donofrio served as Chancellor of the American Inn of Court, Oakland County Bar division, an organization dedicated to the training of new lawyers in the effective and ethical practice of law. Judge Donofrio serves as chairman of the Court of Appeals settlement committee, and has served on both the executive and delay reduction committees. He has served on the faculty at the Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the National Judicial College, and the Michigan Judicial Institute. Judge Donofrio served three terms on the Michigan Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions and served on the Michigan Supreme Court Task Force on Trial Court Performance Standards. He has earned certificates of accomplishment from the National Judicial College and the National Drug Court Institute. Judge Donofrio has presented numerous guest lectures. He is married with two children and one grandchild.

Term expires January 1, 2017.

 

Judge Gleicher was appointed to the Court in 2007. Previously, she was an attorney in private practice for twenty-seven years. She began her career at Goodman, Eden, Millender & Bedrosian in Detroit, and opened her own litigation practice in 1994. She is an elected Fellow of the International Society of Barristers (2004) and the American College of Trial Lawyers (2005). She received the Respected Advocate Award from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel in 2005 and the State Bar of Michigan Champion of Justice Award in 2001. Judge Gleicher has served on the faculty of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education and as an Adjunct Professor at Wayne State University Law School. She received her bachelor's degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and her law degree from Wayne State University Law School.

Term expires January 1, 2019.

 

Judge Jansen was appointed to the Court in 1989.  In 1982 she was elected to the Macomb County Probate Court, being the first woman elected to that Court, and in 1984, she was the first woman elected to the Macomb County Circuit Court.  Prior to her elections, she worked as an attorney in private practice.  Judge Jansen received her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and her law degree from the University of Detroit Law School. 

Term expires January 1, 2019.

Judge Saad was appointed to the Court in 1994, was elected for a six-year term in 1996, and was re-elected in 2002 and 2008. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Saad was a partner at Dickinson, Wright, Moon, Van Dusen & Freeman, where he practiced law for 20 years. Judge Saad received his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University School of Business with honors and his law degree from Wayne State University, magna cum laude.

 

Judge Saad served as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit/Mercy School of Law and Wayne State University Law School where he taught Evidence, Professional Responsibility and Labor Law. Judge Saad served on the boards of Detroit Public Television and the American Heart Association. In 1992, President Bush nominated Judge Saad to the federal district court and in 2001, 2003 and 2005, President Bush nominated Judge Saad to the federal appellate bench.

Term Expires January 1, 2015.

 

Judge Deborah A. Servitto was born February 17, 1956, in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Oakland University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and from the Detroit College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1982.

 

She served from 1982 to 1986 as the first female assistant city attorney for the city of Warren. In 1986, Judge Servitto was elected to the 37th District Court. Governor James J. Blanchard appointed Judge Servitto to the Macomb Circuit Court in 1990, and she subsequently was elected three times to that court. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm appointed Judge Servitto to the Court of Appeals effective March 23, 2006, to replace Judge Hilda R. Gage.

 

During her tenure as a circuit judge, Judge Servitto was instrumental in implementing innovative programs, such as a seminar for divorcing parents aimed at helping their children cope with divorce and a drug court program that provides treatment and intensive supervision to nonviolent, drug-addicted felons. She was also one of the founding directors of Care House, a child-friendly haven for young victims of sexual and physical abuse.

 

Judge Servitto was honored by the March of Dimes in 1991 as the Alexander Macomb Citizen of the Year. In 1996, as an American of Italian descent, she was honored as Woman of the Year by the Columbus Day Committee. The Macomb County Resolution Center awarded Judge Servitto the 2001 Conflict Resolution Advocacy Award for encouraging the amicable resolution of disputes. In 2006, the Warren Family YMCA awarded Judge Servitto its first Community Leader Award.

 

In November, 2006, Judge Servitto was elected to a full six-year term to the Court of Appeals, District 2, which currently includes the counties of Macomb, Oakland and Genesee.

Term Expires January 1, 2019.