give back, and support fellow graduates and current students.
Whether you choose to mentor students, volunteer your time, or contribute your expertise to alumni programs, your involvement makes a real and lasting difference.
Contact alumni@cooley.edu or (517) 371-5140 to learn about opportunities to give back, mentor, or get involved.
On May 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education resumed collections on defaulted federal student loans, officially ending the five-year pause that began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, most federal student loans have been in forbearance, with payments and interest accumulation temporarily halted.
As a borrower who may have ceased enrollment since January 1, 2020, and for whom the institution has contact information, please be reminded of the following:
You are obligated to repay any outstanding federal student loans that are not currently in deferment or forbearance.
You should review repayment options available to you at StudentAid.gov, including income-driven repayment plans.
Please update your contact information on StudentAid.gov to ensure you receive timely notices and avoid further complications.
Ensure that your loans are in good standing to avoid penalties.
The Department of Education has also announced that, as early as June 2025, it will begin collecting on defaulted debt through the Treasury Department’s Offset Program. This means the federal government may withhold tax refunds and federal benefits, such as Social Security payments, to recover defaulted loan amounts.
We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and your continued support of Cooley Law School. VISIT STUDENTAID.GOV TO UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND REVIEW REPAYMENT OPTIONS.
Editor
Mike Reed, Director of Communications and Marketing
Co-Editor
Paul Zelenski, Senior Vice President and Associate Dean of Administration, Enrollment, and Student Services
Advancement and Alumni Relations
Carmen Hall
Contributing writers
Carmen Hall
SeyferthPR Design
Image Creative Group
Photography
Tom Gennara, Photography
Submissions
Benchmark seeks story ideas from graduates on a variety of subjects such as graduate achievements, international experiences, cultural diversity, legal information helpful to practitioners, unique law practices, advice to prospective law students, and special events. If you would like to share a story idea, please write, call, or e-mail:
Communications Office
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300 S. Capitol Ave. Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 371-5140 ext. 2844
communications@cooley.edu
Benchmark is published twice a year by the Communications Office of Cooley Law School.
Alumni
Please call the Alumni Office at (800) 243-2586, or e-mail alumni@cooley.edu with
As we turn the pages of this latest issue of the Benchmark magazine, I am reminded once again of the incredible legacy and bright future of our Cooley community. This edition celebrates the remarkable achievements of some of our more recent graduates, who are making a meaningful impact in their careers and communities. Their stories are a testament to the power of a Cooley Law degree and the perseverance, grit, and commitment that define our alumni.
At the same time, we pause to reflect and honor the memory of two pillars of the Cooley family. Former President and Dean Don LeDuc helped shape the very foundation of our law school. His leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication to legal education helped to shape the future of legal education and our law school. We also mourn the loss of Jerry Sutton, a distinguished alumnus whose career and service exemplified the values we hold dear. Both men left indelible marks on Cooley and the legal profession at large.
I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the ongoing contributions of our exceptional faculty and staff. Their scholarship, presentations, mentorship, and day-to-day hard work enrich every corner of our institution and the profession. They continue to inspire our students and elevate our academic mission through their passion and professionalism.
As always, thank you for your continued support and connection to the Cooley community. I hope you find inspiration in the pages ahead—from the legacies we cherish to the futures we are building together.
Warmest regards,
James McGrath President and Dean Cooley Law School
Mitchell S. Zajac
Chairperson of the Board of Directors
Butzel Long Detroit, Michigan
Aaron V. Burrell
Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors
Dickinson Wright Detroit, Michigan
Hon. Louise Alderson
54-A District Court (retired) Lansing, Michigan
Mustafa Ameen
The Law Office of Ameen & Shafii
Tampa, Florida
Christina Corl
Plunkett Cooney
Columbus, Ohio
Thomas W. Cranmer
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC Troy, Michigan
John M. Dunn
President Emeritus of Western Michigan University
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Hon. Michael P. Hatty
44th Circuit Court, 53rd District Court (retired)
Livingston County, Michigan
Hon. Jane E. Markey
Michigan Court of Appeals
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Kenneth V. Miller
Millennium Restaurant Group, LLC
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Lawrence P. Nolan
Nolan Thomsen & Villas PC
Eaton Rapids, Michigan
Hon. Bart Stupak
Venable, LLP
Washington, D.C.
On behalf of Cooley Law School, and the Cooley Law School Board of Directors, it is with solemn respect that the Cooley Law School Community acknowledges the passing of Don LeDuc, our former President and Dean.
across the country and world—myself included.
Don LeDuc’s tenure at Cooley Law School spanned five decades, beginning as a professor in 1975. He served as dean from 1982 to 1987 and again from 1996 until 2018, also holding the position of president from 2002 until 2018. He returned to the faculty after his retirement from the deanship and presidency in 2018. Under his leadership, Cooley experienced significant growth, becoming the largest law school in the nation by 2010, and also graduated thousands of attorneys now practicing
LeDuc was a staunch advocate for broadening access to legal education. He believed in providing opportunities to individuals from diverse backgrounds, challenging traditional notions of elitism within the legal profession. This commitment is evident in initiatives like the Cooley Innocence Project and the 60+ Elder Law Clinic. In 1996, he led the charge for Cooley to offer the first weekend program in legal education and then making Cooley the first law school to require all graduates to have an externship or clinical experience prior to graduation.
While his approach to legal education and the school’s expansion drew attention from many in the legal community, there is no denying his profound impact on the institution, its students, and the practice of law. LeDuc’s vision and dedication shaped the trajectory of Cooley Law School for years to come.
We extend our condolences to his family, colleagues, and all who were influenced by his work. May his contributions to legal education be remembered with respect and gratitude.
MITCHELL S. ZAJAC CHAIRMAN, COOLEY LAW SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
On behalf of the Alumni Association Board, it is my great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to our newest alumni—the Class of 2025! Congratulations on earning your J.D. We are incredibly proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing how you will shape the legal world with the knowledge, skill, and determination you’ve developed here.
As President of the Alumni Association, it is both an honor and a responsibility to serve this vibrant community. My role is to foster meaningful engagement between our alumni and the law school, ensuring that our network remains strong, supportive, and impactful. Along with the dedicated members of the Alumni Board, I am committed to advancing our shared mission: to create a lifelong, global community of Cooley graduates who support one another and the next generation of legal professionals.
Our mission is to build and nurture lifelong relationships between Cooley Law School and its alumni, enhancing professional development, community involvement, and institutional pride. Our vision is to be a dynamic, inclusive network that empowers alumni and elevates the Cooley legacy. As we look ahead, our strategic goals include expanding alumni engagement, enhancing communication channels, and strengthening support for current students and recent graduates.
Exciting things are happening at Cooley and within our alumni network, and we want YOU to be part of it. Whether you choose to volunteer, mentor current students, or contribute your time and expertise to alumni programs, your involvement makes a lasting impact.
If you haven’t already, I invite you to join the Alumni Association—a growing network of Cooley graduates who are committed to staying connected, giving back, and supporting one another throughout their legal careers. Becoming an active member is a powerful way to stay involved, make a difference, and help guide the future of our alma mater.
I’m also thrilled to announce that we are purchasing a new online alumni portal, which we anticipate launching by Fall 2025. This platform will offer a wide range of resources, including a job board, mentorship opportunities, professional networking events, and ways to get involved with the law school community. While still in its early stages, this tool represents a significant step forward in our efforts to keep you connected and informed.
If you haven’t yet contributed to the Alumni Memorial Scholarship Fund, I encourage you to consider making a gift today. Your support helps provide vital financial assistance to our students and plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our law school. Contributions to scholarships and university initiatives not only uplift individual students—they strengthen Cooley’s reputation and legacy as a leading institution committed to access, excellence, and service.
Together, we can ensure that our alumni network remains a powerful force for good—professionally, personally, and in our communities.
Warm regards,
Germese Gee President, Cooley Law School Alumni Association
(GERALD W. BOSTON CLASS, 2007)
On July 1, Russ Kavalhuna, J.D. (Gerald W. Boston Class, 2007), took the reins as Western Michigan University’s (WMU) president.
He fills the position vacated by Dr. Edward Montgomery, who retired. Kavalhuna is WMU’s 10th president and is currently president at Henry Ford College (HFC). He earned his bachelor’s degree in aviation science from WMU and juris doctor from Cooley Law School. He and his wife, Courtney, have two children.
As president of HFC since 2018, Kavalhuna has led the more than 11,000-student institution in Dearborn, Michigan, to achieve enrollment growth along with increased retention and graduation rates. Prior to his appointment as the college’s president, he was executive director of flight operations at WMU’s College of Aviation, a role Kavalhuna assumed after serving as a federal prosecutor, a Michigan Supreme Court law clerk and, before that, as a commercial airline captain.
In a statement released by WMU, Kavalhuna said, “I am deeply grateful, humbled and honored to serve as the next president of Western Michigan University. This work is personal to me. Kalamazoo and WMU are where my journey began—not only as a student but later in the classroom. My academic heart will always reside here.”
In 2021, Kavalhuna was keynote speaker at Cooley Law School’s commencement. During his remarks, he spoke about his work in the legal field.
Talking about his time as a law student at Cooley, while also working as an airline pilot, Kavalhuna said, “I did three years of weekend classes, year around. Those three-hour sessions, back-to-back, on the weekend, they were rough.”
While sharing how his law school experience helped him through life and his career, he said, “I’m sure all of you have stories about how law school was a struggle, but that is good. It is that, the struggle, in that you learn one thing, Cooley might be the best in the country at teaching. It teaches you in life and in practice that you are going to have to make your own breaks. Like your time at Cooley, you have to grind and hustle, earn some respect and use all of the luck that comes your way. Your success is your own to make.”
The Cooley Law School family congratulates Russ Kavalhuna on his appointment as president of WMU.
Winter graduates of Cooley Law School’s Lansing and Tampa Bay campuses were honored during commencement ceremonies in December 2024.
In Lansing, 57 juris doctor degrees and master of laws degrees were presented to members of Cooley Law School’s Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Class and Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist Class during a commencement ceremony at Michigan State University’s Wharton Center Pasant Theatre on Dec. 14. Chosen by their peers, Phillip Harwood and Autumn Loos gave the class farewell remarks. Ret. Brigadier General Michael C. H. McDaniel delivered the keynote speech.
In Tampa Bay, 57 juris doctor degrees and master of laws degrees were presented to members of Cooley Law School’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Class and Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist Class during a commencement ceremony at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center on Dec. 16.
Chosen by their peers, Paulina Lopera and Madison Mann gave the class farewell remarks. The Hon. Nick Nazaretian of Florida’s 13th Judicial Court delivered the keynote speech.
Spring graduates of Cooley Law School’s Lansing and Tampa Bay campuses were honored during commencement ceremonies in April 2025.
In Tampa Bay, 31 juris doctor degrees were presented to members of Cooley Law School’s Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Class during a commencement ceremony at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center on April 23. Chosen by his peers, Colby Weron gave the class farewell remarks. Retired 13th Judicial Circuit Judge Perry Little delivered the keynote speech.
In Lansing, 36 juris doctor degrees were presented to members of Cooley Law School’s Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Class at the MSU Wharton Center Pasant Theatre on April 21. Chosen by their peers, Jamie Linnell and Arjan Malushi gave the class farewell remarks. Robert Hertzberg (Wiest Class, 1979) delivered the keynote speech.
During the Lansing ceremony, Cooley Professor Rich Henke was presented with the Stanley E. Beattie Award for excellence in teaching. Each term’s graduating class votes on the faculty member who will be honored with the award.
In November 2024, Cooley Law School’s Tampa Bay and Lansing campuses recognized students for their achievements during honors convocation ceremonies.
Carter Lewis and Evan Sisk from Cooley’s Lansing campus were each presented with the Leadership Achievement Award. Sisk and Mary McCabe, also of Cooley’s Lansing campus, and Kristani DaCosta and Safa Kudia from Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus received the Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award.
In March, Cooley Law School’s Lansing and Tampa Bay campuses recognized students in the Hilary Term for their achievements during honors convocation ceremonies.
Sukayna Almusawi, Thomas A. Gildner, Tea Hanna, and Thomas McKee were presented with the Leadership Achievement Award at Cooley’s Lansing campus, while Amber Burney was presented with the Leadership Achievement Award at Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus.
Almusawi and McKee also received the Alumni Association
Distinguished Student Award during the Lansing campus convocation, while Karly Plumb and Colby Weron received the Alumni Association
Distinguished Student Award during the Tampa Bay campus convocation.
The Leadership Achievement Award acknowledges those students who have consistently, comprehensively, and effectively provided leadership in a variety of capacities.
The Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award is given to selected graduating students based on academic accomplishments, professionalism and ethics, leadership, extracurricular activities, and postgraduation plans. The recipients are selected by the Scholarship and Awards Committee of the Cooley Alumni Association.
Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath accepted an appointment to Michigan’s Public Health Advisory Council (PHAC).
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed McGrath to the council effective April 10. His term will expire on Nov. 1, 2028.
The PHAC was established through an executive order in 2017. The council acts in an advisory capacity to the governor and the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Responsibilities of the PHAC include providing guidance and advice about emerging issues in public health, or other public health matters, as deemed appropriate, or as requested by the governor or the director of the Department of Health and Human Services. The council develops and proposes action plans for implementing the recommendations.
Additionally, the PHAC is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of Michigan’s public health response system, in circumstances where
multiple government agencies are required to work in collaboration during a public health threat.
“It’s a privilege to serve the people of Michigan,” said McGrath. “I have been an advocate for people who have suffered due to public health threats long before I earned my Master of Public Health degree. I am excited to work with the incredible people on this council to help ensure the health of all Michiganders.”
McGrath earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from San Jose State University and a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law. He attended Harvard School of Public Health where he earned a Master of Public Health, and earned a Master of Laws in graduate legal education at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. In 2011, McGrath served as a Fulbright Scholar, earning a teaching fellowship at Beijing University of Chemical Technology in Beijing, China. He has had
multiple works published, including, “Overcharging the Uninsured in Hospitals: Shifting a Greater Share of Uncompensated Medical Care Costs to the Federal Government.”
McGrath joined Cooley Law School as president and dean in 2019 after serving as the associate dean of academic support and bar services, as well as professor, at Texas A&M School of Law. In addition to other legal courses at Texas A&M, McGrath has taught a Public Health Law Seminar, and Health Care Law and Ethics at Texas Wesleyan University School of Nursing. He continues to focus his advocacy on serious issues facing education, healthcare and LGBTQ rights.
In her letter appointing McGrath to the PHAC, Whitmer said, “I have every confidence that you will find great personal satisfaction in this important position and that the State of Michigan will benefit from your background and experience.”
Cooley Law School’s Moot Court team won the Best Brief award at Florida State University’s Claude Pepper Elder Law Moot Court Competition, held Nov. 7-9, at FSU College of Law in Tallahassee, Fla. The team consisted of law students from Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus: Gabriella Logiudice, Safa Kudia, and Colby Weron.
For Cooley, Logiudice was the brief writer on the team, while Kudia and Weron conducted research and spent countless hours debating the structure of each argument. They progressed to the elimination rounds, and faced George Washington University in their elimination round and did not progress.
Law students from Cooley’s Lansing, Michigan, campus also competed in the competition, including: Arjan Malushi (brief writer), Larry Westcomb, and Jasmin Guillen.
On May 8, Cooley Law School Associate Dean and Professor Tracey Brame was awarded the Grand Rapids Bar Association’s Champion of Justice Award during the organization’s 2025 Law Day event at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
The Champion of Justice Award recognizes innovative contributions of a lawyer which advance the mission of the GRBA, which is: To promote justice, professional excellence, and respect for the law, foster the dignity and integrity of the profession, and/or provide law-related services to the community.
The event, held in conjunction with the Federal Bar AssociationWestern District of Michigan, explored the American Bar Association’s 2025 Law Day theme, “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One.”
On March 17, Cooley Law School hosted “Careers that Serve with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel” for law students and faculty in the lobby of its Lansing campus.
During the event, Nessel answered students’ questions about public service careers at the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s office. Students also met with various representatives from six divisions within the Attorney General’s office to learn about future internships, summer/post-grad, and career opportunities.
On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Cooley Law School’s Lansing campus held its annual MentorJet program, co-sponsored with the National Association of Women Judges. The program matches law students with leading lawyers and judges to learn about law practice and job opportunities.
Cooley Tampa Bay campus hosts panel discussion focusing on the importance of pro
On Oct. 24, Cooley Law School’s Career and Professional Development department hosted a panel discussion at its Tampa auditorium about the importance of pro bono legal work. The event featured the Hon. Wendy DePaul of the 13th Judicial Circuit of Florida as one of the seven guest panelists.
During the event, panelists and students engaged in a roundtable discussion, regarding the importance of pro bono work in the current legal landscape, particularly in light of the access-to-justice gap. They explored how law students can effectively incorporate pro bono work into their careers from the outset.
On March 21, Cooley Law School held an expungement fair to aid in the removal of certain arrests and convictions from qualifying individuals’ public criminal records.
There were 421 individuals screened through the pre-registration and onsite walk-in process with 251 individuals qualifying for expungement. During the fair, volunteer attorneys and law students under the supervision of licensed attorneys assisted 122 qualified guests who attended the fair with their expungement paperwork.
Expungement removes arrests and convictions from a person’s public criminal record, which makes prior convictions inaccessible to employers or landlords. Cooley Law School has hosted several expungement fairs since 2023, which has resulted in hundreds of individuals being able to have their criminal records expunged.
International audience joins Cooley Law School’s Kimble Center For Legal Drafting webinar
On Nov. 14, Cooley Law School’s Kimble Center for Legal Drafting hosted a webinar that drew viewers from Poland, Nigeria, Canada, the UK, and throughout the US. The webinar – “Clear Legal Writing: New Resources, Technology, and Cases” –focused on various aspects of legal writing in plain language.
During his presentation, Professor Emeritus Joseph Kimble shared details about his new (free) online book, Essentials for Drafting Clear Legal Rules, which he coauthored with Bryan Garner. Professor Mark Cooney also spoke about his research on cases in which courts have refused to enforce legal documents that were difficult to understand because of legalese and poor design.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus Michael McDaniel honored during Ingham County Bar Association Annual Dinner
On Nov. 14, Cooley Law School Professor Brigadier General (Ret.) Michael McDaniel was awarded the Theodore W. Swift Civility Award during the 130th annual Ingham County Bar Association Dinner in Lansing.
The Theodore W. Swift Civility Award recognizes skill and success in practicing one’s profession, while at the same time exhibiting that civility and collegiality may co-exist and contribute to overall and long-term success.
As an attorney one for the Judiciary of Guam, Francesca Camacho (Scalia Class, 2024) hopes to someday be a trial prosecutor, advocating for the interests of justice and the people of Guam –something she’s been wanting to do since before law school.
“When the time is right, I will be ready to jump in and advocate for the people,” she said. “I really want to serve my community in that way, because now, working at the court and seeing both sides, and seeing how much of an influx of cases that we get every day, it makes me want to be the one advocating for those who need it.”
While at Cooley Law School, Camacho, a Guam native, returned home to be a judicial intern at the Judiciary of Guam (Superior Court). During her last
semester, she was granted an externship there, which led to a full-time position as a senior law clerk before being promoted to attorney one after passing the bar exam.
“It was always my plan to return home after law school,” Camacho said. “I want to do my part here and help out as much as I can.”
As attorney one with the Judiciary of Guam, Camacho works closely with her assigned judge, drafting their decisions and orders in all cases – which include criminal, civil, and probate.
“When I’m not in court, I’m writing,” she said. “I draft jury instructions and oversee other court proceedings, like motion hearings and status hearings.”
Camacho explained that because the island of Guam is quite small – no larger than 30 miles long and nine miles wide – sometimes conflict of interest arises.
“That is one of the challenges I currently face today and I’ve have been dealing with it since I started working here,”
Camacho said. “In Guam, a lot of people know each other and
run into each other. For the most part, I feel like familial relations or friendship relationships don’t really pose a conflict, but in certain cases they do and I don’t want to risk that.”
Staying neutral when it comes to drafting court decisions and seeing both sides of the argument is also a challenging aspect in her attorney role for the Judiciary of Guam. It’s about being open minded and not letting her pre-conceived notions on an issue influence her overall process of drafting a decision, Camacho said.
“I try to be as neutral as I can, but also find why one side has a more convincing or a more legal and credible argument versus the other,” she said.
It wasn’t until after she attended the University of California Irvine, earning her undergraduate major in Criminology, Law & Society (CLS) that Camacho answered the call to be an attorney. She found out about Cooley Law School through many Michigan connections in her homeland.
During her first year at Cooley, Camacho recalls having conversations with her professors about leadership opportunities and bringing back some of the student organizations that had dissipated during Covid.
At that time, only first-year students and instructors were back on campus wearing masks, and everyone else was online. But Camacho worked with the law school’s professors to rebuild Mock Trial and Criminal Law Society student organizations.
“It was like a ghost town walking through campus,” she said. “But then, you see all the poster boards of the organizations that used to be there before they had shut down in 2020. It was so unfortunate. I really wanted to help rebuild that side of Cooley and bring back the organizations.”
Since earning her law degree, the former dean’s fellow continues to carry with her a favorite expression from Professor Martha Moore: “just let the information marinate.”
When Camacho is on information overload, she recalls this particular phrase from her Cooley days to help her get through her caseload.
“It really stuck with me and my friends – we even still say it to this day,” said Camacho. “It has taught me to sit back – write everything down and take some time to try and understand the information given to me for myself. It taught me to just let it sink in and just go at your own pace.
“I am so glad that I had Cooley to kick start me into this career because they really did help a lot, especially with hands-on learning,” she added. “This is mainly where my whole career started.”
Samantha Hulliberger (Scalia Class, 2024) didn’t just stumble upon the idea of military service or the law — her path was shaped by a deep commitment to public service, family influence, and a pandemic that gave her time to reflect.
Now a recently minted U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer and recent graduate of Cooley Law School, Hulliberger is stationed at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, where she’s serving as the chief of adverse actions in the base’s legal office. In this role, she advises commanders on administrative and criminal punishment, provides legal assistance to airmen, drafts and executes wills, and prosecutes on behalf of the Air Force. It’s a career that’s both demanding and rewarding — and one she never envisioned before law school.
“I didn’t even know what the JAG Corps was when I started law school,” Hulliberger said. “I had always been interested in the Air Force and public service, and I originally pursued becoming an Air Force officer in any field. But the application process was
delayed during COVID, so I applied to law school instead.”
That decision brought her back full circle. While at Cooley, a chance connection with a Navy JAG officer led her to shadow him at the Pentagon — an experience that clarified her career path. “It ended up being the best of both worlds –serving and practicing law,” she said.
Hulliberger’s route into the JAG Corps was far from typical. While most applicants enter through a direct appointment after law school, Hulliberger commissioned through the Air Force’s one-year college program, completing two semesters of ROTC at Michigan State University during her 3L year at Cooley. Upon graduation, she attended field training — alongside 19- and 20-year-old cadets — just weeks before sitting for the bar exam.
“It was a whirlwind,” she recalled. “Normally, no one would attend field training before the bar exam. But with medical delays and scheduling, I didn’t have a choice.”
Today, she applies that same resilience and adaptability to her everyday responsibilities. As a new officer and attorney, she navigates the complexities of military law under the Uniform Code of Military Justice — learning to advise commanders and manage her upcoming court docket while also staying “deployment ready,” a requirement for all active-duty military members.
“The biggest challenge has been learning two jobs at once,” Hulliberger said. “You’re expected to be the legal expert, but also fulfill military duties that have
nothing to do with the law, like attend survival training and constantly maintain your health and fitness for deployment. It’s like learning a new language.”
Despite these challenges, Hulliberger is thriving. Her time at Cooley Law School helped build her foundation as a litigator and leader. She served as president of the Student Bar Association, competed on the National Moot Court Team, and participated in the school’s mock trial class. These experiences, she said, were instrumental in preparing her to face judges — and commanders.
“Mock trial with Professor Lewis Langham made me realize that I could enjoy litigation, even though I came in thinking I wouldn’t,” Hulliberger said. “And Professor Mark Cooney was a huge influence. Everything I know about legal writing and persuasive advocacy came from him.”
When it comes to the law, Hulliberger is a proponent of questioning everything. She questions why laws are significant and why they were created –something she learned from Professor Mark Dotson.
“He would say, ‘I don’t think enough people are curious, and individuals sometimes fall into the motions of just doing things for the sake of doing it. If you sit back and ask, why am I doing this? Why does this law exist? What’s the intent of this? It helps with your understanding and reasoning,’” Hulliberger said. “I still ask myself when I’m doing a legal review or working through an analysis, why does any of this matter? Why does this fact matter? It seems simple enough, but there are
times when you truly don’t know why, so it’s important to ask those questions.”
Hulliberger also credits her family legacy with drawing her to Cooley Law School in the first place. Her grandmother, Kathleen Hunter, graduated from Cooley in 1983 and went on to serve as an assistant attorney general in Lansing. Her cousin, Rachel Henry, earned her Cooley degree in 2018 and is now a prosecutor in Traverse City.
Hulliberger’s current assignment is for two years, after which she could be stationed anywhere in the world. She hasn’t decided whether a long-term military career is in the cards, but says she’s staying focused on learning, litigating, and serving.
“My goals are short-term right now, but this job has so many opportunities. Every day I do something different. I am excited to see what this career offers,” she said.
In the meantime, Hulliberger is staying grounded with personal goals — like training for the Air Force Half Marathon alongside her brother, despite being stationed far from her Michigan roots.
“It’s been hard being away from family,” she admitted. “My brother has three little kids – I miss them a lot, but we get to
FaceTime – and training together for the half marathon has made me feel connected to them even though I am far away.”
Though her journey has been anything but conventional, Hulliberger has no regrets. From pandemic uncertainty to ROTC and JAG School, she’s carved a path that reflects her values: service, leadership, and advocacy.
This … is Cooley.
“I definitely didn’t think this is where I’d end up when I started law school,” she said. “But I’m grateful for the journey — and Cooley gave me the tools to be ready for it.”
David
had dreams of becoming a big-time defense attorney when he started classes at Cooley Law School in the fall of 2009. But his mom, Rosalind, envisioned her son in a different career path – a life in public service. After his first year at Cooley, Hamilton proved her right.
Following graduation from Cooley, Hamilton landed a job as a field organizer in Ohio with Organizing for America for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012. From there, he became an Akron City prosecutor.
In 2016, Hamilton was elected to the Summit County Council and served through 2019. The following year, he was hired as a judicial attorney for Akron Municipal Judge Ron Cable. He served in that role for a little under two years before being elected to Akron Municipal Court judge in 2019 where he continues to serve. In 2023 and 2025, Hamilton was selected by his peers to serve as the court’s administrative and presiding judge, which oversees the municipal court operations, including grants, budgeting and personnel, and its five other judges in addition to presiding over his own caseload.
“When we had the conversation, I said, ‘Oh Mom, you don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s nothing I’ve shown you to let you know that I want to be in public service or that I’d be any good at it,” recalled Hamilton. “But she was right! It’s like the old adage goes –parents know their kids.”
During his first term at Cooley, Hamilton fought a steeper uphill battle than going to classes and studying for exams.
His mother had lost her battle with breast cancer shortly after Hamilton started law school.
“When my mom died, it was like everything became real for me,” Hamilton said. “Every conversation we’ve had, I thought back about the things discussed and who she wanted me to be.”
That entire first year of law school was a blur for Hamilton. He made numerous trips back and forth between Lansing, Michigan, and Akron to be with his family and plan his mother’s funeral.
Looking back, Hamilton is unsure how he got through that first year at Cooley.
“The one thing about life is it doesn’t care what else you’re doing. It doesn’t care that you have goals. It doesn’t care that you’re in school,” said Hamilton. “Life is going to just sometimes get in the way. And that’s the reality of it. But you just have to stay faithful, determined and disciplined.”
The following year, Hamilton attended a rally in downtown Lansing, not far from Cooley’s campus, where people from all walks of life were fired up about a state bill that would increase the cost of car insurance.
At that moment, that is when Hamilton realized he wanted to be a public servant.
“My mom was right,” he said. “What’s interesting about law and politics is government touches everything we do in society. And that was a testament to what I saw that day because in government, it doesn’t matter what race, creed, color, or
economic status that you’re in, we can all get behind one cause for the common good. I look at public service as a way to bring people together.”
A native of Akron, Hamilton received his undergraduate degree in sociology with a minor in criminal justice and criminology from the University of Akron. While at Cooley, he began his journey in public service work when he ran and was elected Ingham County precinct delegate in 2010. Hamilton then ran for Student Bar Association president – and lost.
“That’s the only loss I’ve ever had as a candidate,” joked Hamilton. “I still think about that – it still stings a little.”
The following year, Hamilton’s last term at Cooley, he ran for SBA senator – and was successful that time around. That year was pivotal for Hamilton. He found the camaraderie that he missed out on during his first two years at law school, and experienced firsthand how student government worked.
“What’s cool about Cooley is it has a diverse student population,” said Hamilton. “There are a lot of students from different states, nationalities, and backgrounds – you really have this melting pot of people who you can work with and learn from. I think that experience helped me with being an elected official now.”
In 2020, during his first year as a municipal judge in Akron, Hamilton created a first-ofits-kind program in Ohio, called COMPASS (Compassion, Opportunity, Mentoring, Purpose, Achievement, Success and Stepping Forward). The program, which received statewide attention during a Leadership Ohio event in May, collaborates with community partners as mentors to show young men how to deal with deep-rooted trauma and prepare for life after probation, including job placement, GED, trade licensure and financial literacy. Upon graduation from COMPASS most graduates get their case/cases dismissed, fines and court costs waived and their records sealed.
“Typically, a lot of guys, get on probation, and do just enough to complete probation, then they go back out in the community and reoffend,” said Hamilton. “COMPASS is designed to stop this revolving door of men going in and out of the criminal justice system, and in turn, decreasing the recidivism rate in Ohio. Then, once they graduate from COMPASS, they have a fresh start and possess the tools and resources necessary to stay on the right path.”
Two years later, Hamilton created Raising the Bar, a career in law exploration program for minority high school and college students in the Akron area.
Both programs have an indirect tie to Hamilton’s superhero, his brother, who Hamilton witnessed get arrested and go to prison. Hamilton, a young boy at the time, vividly remembers being excited that his brother, who was in his late teens, was the one picking him up for baseball practice that day. Within a few minutes after getting in the car, the brothers were pulled over by the police and Hamilton’s brother was taken into custody.
That was the life-altering moment where Hamilton determined he was going to pursue a career in law.
“He was just a young kid – but that’s the harsh reality in the environment where we grew up – crime, violence and poverty is all around you,” said Hamilton, noting his brother turned his life around after being released from prison. “I think in a lot of ways it makes me a great judge because most of the people I see come from the same environment and I can relate to them – we share the same background, probably some of the same stories and they look like me. I like to think that it actually has helped me become a better judge and even be more compassionate to people – and not just look at what they’ve done, but also look at their circumstances and the reasons behind why they did what they did, and how I can help them.
“If I can make somebody a better person, then I’ve done my job.”
This… is Cooley.
Cooley Law School faculty Michael Molitor, Dustin Foster, Emily Horvath have co-authored the textbook, “Wills, Estates, and Trusts: Statutes, Cases, and Problems.”
The book, published by Carolina Academic Press in December 2024, comprehensively covers all important aspects of estate planning law, including non-probate assets; intestacy; family protections and the surviving spouse’s elective share; wills (including a general chapter on wills, and additional chapters on events that occur after the will, such as after-married spouses and after-born children, challenges to wills, and revocation of wills); trusts; the federal gift and estate tax; and estate planning, including ethical issues.
“The textbook was a labor of love that took a few years,” said Molitor. “With the assistance of my colleagues, we were able to produce a textbook that is practical, contains many practice problems (including an online supplement with more than 250 practice multiple-choice questions and explanations), and will be a great teaching aid for any professor using the uniform codes to teach Wills, Estates, & Trusts.”
Each chapter features detailed learning objectives, as well as dozens of problems for in-class discussion that require law students to delve into and apply statutes and case law. The teacher’s manual contains detailed explanations to each of these questions as well as other materials for professor use.
The textbook covers the Uniform Probate Code, the Uniform Trust Code, and other uniform statutes, but also includes a wealth of case law. The online Core Knowledge for Lawyers assessment sets contain many multiple-choice and essay questions with detailed explanations, that students can use to assess their mastery of the subject matter.
“Wills, Estates, and Trusts: Statutes, Cases, and Problems” is available for purchase online at Carolina Academic Press and Amazon.
‘Top
On March 13, Cooley Law School graduate
Susan Chalgian was named Ingham County Bar Association’s “Top 5 Under 35” at the 16th annual Barristers Night at the University Club of Michigan State University.
During the event, Judge Lisa McCormick of Ingham County 30th District Court presented the awards. ICBA President Lindsay Dangl and University Club of MSU CEO/General Manager Phyllis Riley shared remarks.
Chalgian is an attorney at Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices, PLLC in East Lansing where she practices elder law, estate planning, and special needs planning. Before attending Cooley, she received her undergraduate degree from DePaul University in Chicago. Chalgian has served as immediate past president for the Women Lawyer’s Association of Michigan. She also serves as: Elder Law and Disability Rights Section of the State Bar secretary, Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar council member, and member of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s (ICLE) Elder Law Advisory Planning Committee, State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC) Forms Committee and Justice for All Commission Committee, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Kent County Elder Abuse Coalition, and Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council.
In addition, Chalgian is an accredited attorney with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, co-author of the ICLE publication, “Advising the Older Client or Client with Disability,” and the “Michigan Medicaid Planning Handbook.”
Chalgian has been recognized by Best Lawyers in American Ones to Watch 2024, and Michigan Lawyers Weekly in its “Up & Coming” Class of 2021.
On Feb. 22, Cooley Law School’s Black Law Students Association held its “Harlem After Dark: A Celebration of Black Excellence and Legacy” black-tie ball at the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center in Tampa.
Inspired by the vibrant energy of the Harlem Renaissance, the event honored the rich cultural legacy and enduring spirit of Black excellence. The event’s keynote speaker, Cooley Law School Professor Joseline Hardrick, shared her inspiring insights, setting the tone for an evening of reflection, empowerment, and celebration. The event featured the premiere showing of Hardrick’s documentary, “Love, Law, Legacy.”
Additionally, Hardrick was awarded BLSA’s Distinguished Leadership Award.
Guests enjoy Cooley Law School’s Black Law Students Association’s “Harlem After Dark: A Celebration of Black Excellence and Legacy” ball on Feb. 22 at the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center in Tampa.
Brad Charles, Professor Presented, at
AccessLex Spring Sync Seminar on creating NextGen UBE practice questions (May 2025).
Published, “Legal Analysis Writing Skills: Learn Skills, Not Documents” (forthcoming, Carolina Academic Press 2025).
Mark Cooney, Professor
Published, Book Review of “Elegant Legal Writing” by Ryan McCarl, volume 29 of Legal Writing: The Journal of the Legal Writing Institute (2025).
Published, “Is Your Arbitration Clause Clear Enough?” in the Michigan Bar Journal’s March 2025 volume (and notified that it made SSRN’s Top Ten download list for two eJournals).
Published, “Ten Tips for Clearer Briefs,” WordRake Blog, March 7, 2025.
Published, “Editing for Enforceability,” WordRake Blog, Dec. 19, 2024.
Presented, “Motion Practice in Criminal Cases,” Oakland County Bar Association/ Indigent Defense Services Office webinar, April 17, 2025 (with Cooley alumna Parisa Sadrnia).
Judged, for the Center for Plain Language’s 2025 ClearMark Awards.
Participated, in the Annual Board Meeting for Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, April 16, 2025. Participated, in multiple meetings of the Legal Writing Institute’s Scholarship & DisciplineBuilding Work Group.
Quoted, by Bloomberg Law, for “Michigan Chief Justice’s Exit Fortifies Court’s Leftward Swing” (Feb. 21, 2025) (re changing makeup of Michigan Supreme Court).
Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick, Associate Professor
Quoted, in the news article “Tampa lawyers rally outside federal courthouse, reaffirm oath to support rule of law” for the Tampa Law Day of Action event on May 1, 2025.
Premiered, new documentary, Love Law Legacy, which features interviews with four pioneering lawyers in Tampa Bay, including retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince. The video series supplements Professor Hardrick’s article, “Locs, Law & Liberation - An Examination of The CROWN Act and Racialized Notions of Professionalism” in the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice. More information is available at locslawliberation.com.
Richard Henke, Professor
Awarded, with the Stanley E. Beattie Teaching Award in December 2024.
Joe Kimble, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Presented, virtually, a keynote address at the international “Crystal Clear” Conference sponsored by the Lisbon Public Law Research Center. The title of the address was “The Importance of Clarity to Democracy and the Rule of Law.”
Published, an article called “Once More on Textualism and the Michigan Supreme Court’s Use of Dictionaries” in Michigan’s Appellate Practice Journal. The article responds to previous interviews with Court of Appeals’ judges who were responding to his research and publications on these subjects.
Published, his latest Redlines column—called “What’s with the Repetitious Citing?”—in Judicature
Prepared, several short “Tuesday Tips” for Scribes— The American Society of Legal Writers. The writing tips are sent to all Scribes members every other Tuesday. He and Professor Cooney take turns preparing them.
Spoke, virtually, to a class on legal drafting at the University of Michigan Law School.
Spoke, about plain legal language to an undergraduate communications class at Arizona State University.
Notified, that the redrafted Federal Rules of Bankruptcy is a finalist for a ClearMark Award from the Center for Plain Language. Professor Kimble was a drafting consultant on that multiyear project.
Notified, that the book he coauthored with Bryan Garner, called Essentials for Drafting Clear Legal Rules, has been shared with the drafters in the Office of Legislative Counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Attended, virtually, the winter meeting of the Standing Committee on Federal Rules. Professor Kimble has been a drafting consultant to the Committee for 25 years.
Editor’s note: The following items from Professor Kimble’s listing were inadvertently omitted from the previous issue of the Benchmark.
Received, the Golden Pen Award from the Legal Writing Institute, the group of legal-writing professors at law schools in the U.S. The award is given annually to someone who “significantly advances the cause of professional legal writing.”
Published, with coauthor Bryan Garner, a book called Essentials for Drafting Clear Legal Rules. The book is available free on the website of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Just Google the title.
Published, his latest Redlines column in Judicature, the scholarly journal for the judiciary. The column was titled “Leading into Quotes with Substance.”
Published, an article in the Cooley Law Review called “Answering a Defense of Textualism— and of the Skyrocketing Use of Dictionaries in the Michigan Supreme Court.” A Supreme Court opinion had cited Professor Kimble’s work on the Court’s heavy use of dictionaries in recent decades. His article responded to a dissenting opinion in the case.
Notified, that this article was a top-ten download on SSRN’s Law, Politics & Media eJournal and on its Legal Writing eJournal.
Published, a two-part article in the Michigan Bar Journal’s Plain Language column, called “Flimsy Claims for Legalese and False Criticisms of Plain Language: A 30-Year Collection.” Last year, 2024, was the column’s 40th year. Professor Kimble has been the editor for 36 years.
Published, an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press called “Rule-of-Law Judge? Don’t Be Fooled. Here’s What That Really Means.” The op-ed addressed the notion that judges simply “apply the law as written.” The article was later cited by the Free Press in its endorsement of candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court.
Published, two short pieces on the website of the Japan Association of Plain Language: “Plain Language—The Bottom Line” and “The Arguments Against Plain Language Have Been Refuted.”
Spoke, on the topic “Avoiding Ambiguity in Legal Drafting” at the Eighth International Conference on Legislation and Law.
Spoke, at the third international webinar sponsored by Cooley’s Kimble Center for Legal Drafting. Clarity International was a cosponsor.
Gave, a tour of his bluesand-rock art collection, hanging at Cooley on the sixth floor, to a group from the Lansing area.
Notified, that his article “Redrafting All the Federal Court Rules: A 30-Year Odyssey,” published in Judicature, was a top-ten download on SSRN’s Legal Writing ejournal, on its Law & Rhetoric ejournal, and on its Legislation and Statutory Interpretation ejournal. The article describes the process for redrafting the five sets of rules. Professor Kimble led the work on the Rules of Civil Procedure, Bankruptcy Procedure, and Evidence.
Matt Marin, Associate Professor
Published, “How to Overcome the Anxiety of Cold Calling in Law School,” in the ABA Student Lawyer, November 22, 2024.
Wrote, a book review for Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s “Just Watch Me: A Memoir,” in the Michigan Bar Journal, March 2025.
Presented, “The Power of Words: Achieving Inclusivity in Legal Language,” for the American Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Series, April 17, 2025.
Presented, “Mastering Essay Writing for the Bar Exam,” for the San Diego School of Law’s Graduate & International Programs, April 15, 2025.
Presented, “Essential Etiquette Tips for Law Students,” for the American Bar Association Webinar Series, March 6, 2025.
Martha Moore, Professor Awarded, with the Stanley E. Beattie Teaching Award in December 2024.
Otto Stockmeyer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Published, an article, “Florence St. John’s Fight for Equal Pay,” in Labor and Employment Lawnotes (State Bar of Michigan, Winter 2023), available at https://ssrn.com/ abstract=4685361.
Published, an article, “Goodbye to Essay Exams?” on LinkedIn, available at https://www.linkedin.com/ pulse/goodbye-essayexams-otto-stockmeyer09qzc/.
Published, an article, “My Approach to Law School Exams,” on LinkedIn, available at https://www. linkedin.com/pulse/ my-approach-law-schoolexams-otto-stockmeyerrw69c/.
Published, an article, “In the Beginning… Origins of the Court of Appeals Research Staff: Looking Back on 60 Years,” in Society Update (Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, March 2025), available at https://www. micourthistory.org/wpcontent/uploads/2025/04/ Otto-StockmeyerArticle.pdf.
Joan P. Vestrand, Professor
Presented, as one of three national panelists in an ABA Webinar entitled, “Incivility - Prosecution and Prevention.” The webinar was sponsored by the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility. William Wagner, Distinguished Professor
Emeritus
Served, as the Senior Advisor for Global Criminal Justice at the U.S. Department of State Honored, by the dedication of the Wagner Faith & Freedom Center at Spring Arbor University, a multi-million dollar endowed academic center named in his honor.
Served, as Counsel of Record in numerous matters before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Presented, “Germany 2004: Watching the EU Expand” at the first annual Michigan Fulbright Symposium in April at Michigan State University.
Bert D. Chandler Class Herrington, Judge David, announced he will retire July 2025 from the bench after more than 18 years of exemplary service to the people of Huron County. Since his appointment to the bench, he has worn many judicial hats: district judge, probate judge, and chief judge of Huron County’s courts. What stands out through it all is his steady commitment to listening, keeping an open mind, and applying the law with compassion and clarity.
George Miles Class Carolan, James, was re-elected as Chair of the Senior Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Michigan for the 2024-2025 bar year. Additionally, on December 17, 2024, he was one of the speakers for the NBI Michigan Probate webinar, speaking on the topic “Managing the Estate: Valuations, Spousal Share, and More.”
Abner Pratt Class Forbush, Audrey J., a partner at Plunkett Cooney and a distinguished member of the Class of 1988, has been named one of Crain’s Detroit Business’s 2025
Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys
Edward H. C. Wilson Class Tallman, Lori (Button), has been elected to her second term as Trustee for Davison Township in Davison, Michigan.
Edwin Lawrence Class Walsh, Rebecca, was named to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Class of 2025 and honored alongside 25 distinguished Michigan attorneys at a recognition luncheon held on April 25 at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center in Lathrup Village. Her accomplishments were also highlighted in the April 21 edition of Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW).
1992
John W. McGrath Class Numinen, Karl, was named to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Class of 2025 and honored alongside 25 distinguished Michigan attorneys at a luncheon held on April 25 at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center in Lathrup Village. His achievements were also featured in the April 21 edition of Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW).
John Rutledge Class Welsh, Christopher P., is proudly continuing the legacy of his father, attorney James R. Welsh, who founded Welsh & Welsh, PC, LLO. Following his father’s retirement, Christopher has taken up the mantle, maintaining the firm’s longstanding commitment to justice and client service. His leadership in the legal field includes serving as President of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys in 2014 and being named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers in 2018.
James Wilson Class Ambrozaitis, Michelle, has been elected to serve as the next Judge of the 55th Circuit Court, representing Clare and Gladwin counties. Ambrozaitis transitions to the bench after making history as the first woman elected prosecutor in her jurisdiction—and as its longest-serving to date.
Clark J. Adams Class Plecha, Ryan C., joined Butzel as
Commercial Litigation
Attorney. Recent honors include being named a Michigan Lawyers Weekly Go To Lawyer in Business Litigation (2023), a Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under 40 honoree (2015), and a Michigan Super Lawyers designee in Business and Civil Litigation from 2022 to 2024. He was also a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for nine consecutive years.
Edward M. Sharpe Class Nelson, Jonathan K., of Jonathan “JK” Nelson Law, was recognized with multiple Best of Las Vegas Gold Awards for 2024. The firm earned top honors in the following categories: Best Bankruptcy Lawyer, Best Family Law Lawyer, Best Divorce Lawyer, Best Estate Law, and Best Probate Lawyer.
2011
Henry C. Chipman Class Gary, Jessa, was promoted to partner at Isaac Wiles, a full-service law firm based in Columbus, Ohio, effective January 1, 2025. Recently named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2024, Gary is licensed to practice in both Ohio and Florida.
2012
Bushrod Washington Class
Pepprock, Samantha, Senior Counsel at ManpowerGroup, has been named a 40 Under 40 honoree by the Milwaukee Business Journal. The 40 Under 40 award celebrates the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers shaping Milwaukee’s future.
Marion M. Hilligan Class Hamilton, Judge David H., will serve as the administrative/ presiding judge of the Akron Municipal Court for 2025. In addition to his caseload, Judge Hamilton created and runs two court-sponsored programs: Compassion, Opportunity, Mentoring, Purpose, Achievement, Success, Stepping forward (COMPASS) Program for males who are at high risk to reoffend and Raising the Bar for high school students wishing to learn more about law-related career opportunities.
Oliver Ellsworth Class Green, Mikai J., has been elected President of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, a prominent legal organization dedicated to advancing diversity and justice within Michigan’s legal community. As President, Green is leading with the 2025 theme: “Disruptors in the Legal Community: Fighting to Redress Injustice and Inequality.”
Alfred Moore Class Wierenga, Katelyn L., has joined Plunkett Cooney’s Grand Rapids office, becoming part of the firm’s Transportation Law and Torts & Litigation practice groups. Wierenga brings over a decade of litigation experience to the firm and is licensed to practice in both Michigan and California.
Thomas Todd Class Charters, Nicholas of Charters, Tyler, Zack & Shearer, P.C. was honored alongside 25 distinguished Michigan attorneys at a luncheon held on April 25 at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center in Lathrup Village. His accomplishments were also highlighted in the April 21 edition of Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW).
John McLean Class Taleb, Reda A., launched Ordinary People with Extraordinary Superpowers©, a powerful and deeply personal narrative that sheds light on the lived experiences of justice-impacted Arab American Muslim families.
David Davis Class Alfaro, Arturo, a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office, was recognized alongside 25 distinguished Michigan attorneys at a luncheon held on April 25 at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center in Lathrup Village. His achievements were also featured in the April 21 edition of Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MiLW).
William Burnham Woods Class
Leshinsky, Briana, an Associate Attorney at Owenby Law, P.A., recently celebrated her first year with the firm by earning two distinguished awards. She received the highest consultation and retention rates firm-wide, along with the coveted Attorney of the Year award.
LeDuc, Don, former President and Dean of Thomas M. Cooley Law School, author, historian, birder, athlete, and patron of the arts and other charitable ventures, died peacefully on May 24, 2025, surrounded by family. He was 83 years old.
1976
James V. Campbell Class Wood, Frederick “Fred” L., 74, of Coldwater, Michigan, passed away peacefully Friday, November 29, 2024, at Cameron Memorial Community Hospital in Angola, Indiana. He worked as a prosecuting attorney in Jackson, Livingston, and Branch counties before being elected Probate Judge in 1989. He went on to serve as the Branch County Probate Judge until his retirement in 2012.
1979
Henry M. Butzel Class Brown, Nelson, passed away in the early morning hours of December 15, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. In 1979, Nelson moved to Chicago and practiced law at the Legal Assistance Foundation for a decade. He then worked as an attorney for the Chicago Park District for 25 years.
1980
George E. Bushnell Class Brown, Theodore A., loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, died after a long illness in his hometown of Plainsboro, New Jersey, on December 6, 2024. After earning his JD at Cooley, Ted went on to be admitted to the State Bars of New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Hawaii, as well as the U.S. District Courts. His professional career spanned nearly 50 years.
Charles D. Long Class Stopczynski, Kenneth “Ken” Matthew, passed away quietly at home on December 23, 2024, at the age of 68. He practiced law in Iron Mountain, Michigan, for 16 years.
George Morell Class Smith, Matthew, passed away on May 18, 2025. He was a member of the State Bar Criminal Law Section for twenty-five years and was instrumental with the section in proposing changes to Michigan criminal laws when necessary.
Thomas R. Sherwood Class
Applegarth, Valenda, 68, of Marblehead, MA, passed away on January 3, 2025. She trained extensively on victim relocation, privacy, child custody jurisdiction, and other related legal issues throughout the U.S. As a Senior Staff Attorney, she founded the nation’s first Relocation Counseling Project and represented victims of sexual and domestic violence for more than 20 years.
Samuel T. Douglass Class Cianfarano, Michael G., 64, of Oswego, Michigan, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2025. He worked for the Michigan Law Review for some time after graduating. After returning to Oswego, he worked as the part-time City Attorney and the parttime District Attorney before starting his private practice.
Edward H. C. Wilson Class Martin, Manuel Enrique, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully in El Paso on May 22, 2025, at the age of 61. Enrique devoted his career to public service as a public defender, advocating for those in need.
Robert M. Montgomery Class
O’Conner, Annette R., 58, of Grove City, Pennsylvania, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2025, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. While living in Michigan, Annette worked for the state as an inspector.
Louis H. Fead Class Hoffman, Brian James, 54, of Lake City, Michigan, passed away January 9, 2025, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He practiced law in Wexford, Missaukee, Osceola and Grand Traverse.
Emerson R. Boyles Class
Chesser, Tracey Sims, 46, of Bardstown, Kentucky, passed away Thursday, January 9, 2025. She was an attorney for Chesser Law Office, a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Cooley Law School.
Gabriel Duvall Class Marcelin, Adner, of Tallahassee, Florida peacefully transitioned on May 8, 2025. He was a civil rights leader, NAACP leader, and dedicated member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He championed justice with boldness, uplifted marginalized voices, and inspired countless lives through service.
Clark J. Adams Class Grammer, Scott, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Ionia, Michigan. There was nothing that brought him greater joy than people “enjoying my dogs.” He worked in the Legal Affairs Department at MSHDA as Officer and In House Counsel.
Levi Woodbury Class
Cosby-Aye, Candice Janiné, 34, of Lake Orion, Michigan, passed away peacefully on December 8 in Royal Oak, Michigan, surrounded by her loving family. She was an active member of the State Bar of Michigan and was proudly admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court.
2019
Benjamin Robbins Curtis Class
Heron, Michael R., passed away on May 24, 2025. He was widely regarded as a leader in education, social justice, and community engagement across the Great Lakes Bay Region. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Center for Civil Justice and the Board of the Saginaw Defenders Office, and was a member of its Community Social Relations Committee.
2019
Samuel Freeman Miller Class
Doxey, Terry Lee, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2025. He traveled throughout Michigan in various courts, mediating landlord-tenant and civil mediation cases. He was certified as both a civil and domestic mediator, having conducted over 1,200 cases.
1942-2025
Jerry Sutton, a proud member of Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s first graduating class (Cooley Class, 1976), passed away on January 15, 2025, at the age of 82.
Jerry earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University, where he was a three-year letter winner (1962-64) as the starting first baseman. An All-American baseball player while at Michigan State University, he held several school records and remained a loyal Spartan throughout his life. Jerry signed with the Chicago White Sox and played two seasons in the team’s minor league farm system. He was inducted into the Lansing Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
Cooley Class, 1976, Lansing, Michigan
After graduating from MSU in 1964, Jerry pursued a career in real estate, a field in which he continued working while attending law school. His passion for strategic planning and helping others led him and his wife, Linda Sutton (Dethmers Class, 1981), working together since 1977, to co-found Sutton Advisors, PLC. Together, along with their daughter, Jordan Sutton (Johnson Class, 2013 and LLM, Trimble Class, 2015), they have built a client-focused advisory firm committed to
helping individuals live with confidence and purpose.
Beyond his professional achievements, Jerry was deeply committed to his community. He not only embodied civic engagement in his own life but also encouraged his clients to do the same. His leadership and values left a lasting impact on those he served and mentored.
In recognition of their exceptional service and dedication, Jerry and Linda Sutton received Cooley Law School’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2003.
Jerry Sutton will be remembered as a pioneering graduate, dedicated professional, and loyal advocate for both his clients and his community.
One of the best ways Cooley graduates can support the next generation of students is by offering an externship or internship opportunity to a current student or creating job opportunities for recent graduates.
To post a job or learn more about supporting new graduates in launching their careers, contact the Career and Professional Development Office at recruit@ cooley.edu or 800-577-6745.