Bill Schuette

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William Duncan "Bill" Schuette (b. October 13, 1953) is politician and jurist from the U.S. state of Michigan. Since January 2003, he has served on Michigan's 4th District Court of Appeals.

Schuette was born in Midland, Michigan, where he graduated from Herbert Henry Dow High School in 1972. He attended Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and in 1976 graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in the Foreign Service. He also studied at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and received a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1979. Schuette was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1979. He was a delegate to the Michigan State Republican conventions in 1972, 1974, and 1982.

In November 1984, at the age of 31, Schuette was elected as a Republican defeating incumbent Democrat Donald J. Albosta for a seat in the 99th United States Congress from Michigan's 10th congressional district. Schuette was re-elected to the two succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1985 until January 3, 1991. He did not seek re-election in 1990, but unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Democrat Carl Levin for his seat in the United States Senate. While in Congress, Schuette served on the House Budget Committee, the House Agriculture Committee and the House Select Committee on Aging.

In January 1991, Schuette was named by Michigan Governor John Engler to be as Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, where he served until 1993. While Director, Schuette and his wife Cynthia created the Michigan Harvest Gathering, a food and fund drive to help feed hungry people throughout Michigan. Joining with the Food Bank Council of Michigan, the Michigan Harvest Gathering has raised more than $4 million and 6 million pounds of food for Michigan families over a 12-year period.

In November 1994, he was elected to represent the 35th district in the Michigan State Senate, where he served until 2003. In 2001, Schuette was selected by President George W. Bush to be his Personal Representative to Australian-American Friendship Week in Australia.

In November 2002, he was elected judge in the Michigan Court of Appeals, and his term expires January 1, 2009.

Schuette has been a member of various boards and organizations throughout Michigan. Current positions include:

  • Vice President of the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation
  • Trustee of the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation
  • Member of the Board of Trustees of Albion College and the Visiting Committee of the Gerald R. Ford Institute at Albion College
  • Board member of the Education Freedom Fund

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Preceded by
Donald J. Albosta		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 10th congressional district
1985–1991		 Succeeded by
Dave Camp