| Brian K. Zahra | |
|---|---|
| 107th Justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2011[1] |
|
| Nominated by | Rick Snyder |
| Preceded by | Maura Corrigan |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Wayne State University (B.A.) University of Detroit (J.D.) |
Brian K. Zahra is a Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
Zahra attended Wayne State University and worked his way through by opening a health and beauty-aid store in downtown Detroit, which he expanded into a full grocery store. He subsequently graduated from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1987, and then clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Zatkoff. He also served as a Wayne County Circuit Court judge from 1994-98. Zahra was thereafter appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals by Republican Governor John Engler in 1999. Among his past rulings, in 2007 Zahra was a member of the three-judge appeals panel that unanimously held that Michigan's ban against gay marriage blocked public universities and governments from providing health insurance benefits to the partners of gay workers.[2]
In naming Zahra, Governor Snyder stated "Brian has a tremendous record. He served for 16 years on the bench, both on the Court of Appeals and in Wayne County. ... He's a rule-of-law judge, which was one of our key criteria, and he's recognized for being one of the hardest working people in the state of Michigan with respect to the judiciary."[3]
The appointment means Republican nominees will maintain a 4-3 majority on the court. Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer issued a statement describing Zahra as an "extremist judge who will protect insurance companies and corporations." But former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, a Democrat, worked with Zahra at the Dickinson Wright law firm and considers him an "outstanding and fair-minded judge."[4]
Zahra was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court on January 11, 2011 by Governor Rick Snyder to replace Maura Corrigan who was in turn appointed to head the Michigan Department of Human Services.[4] Zahra, 51, of Northville Township will need to stand for election in November, 2012 to retain the position.
List of Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court