Noah Hood Appointed To The Michigan Supreme Court

Governor Whitmer appointed Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Noah Hood to the Michigan Supreme Court. The Democratic majority on SCoMI is now 6 to 1:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/23/governor-gretchen-whitmer-picks-detroiter-noah-hood-for-seat-on-michigan-supreme-court/83232763007/

Gov. Whitmer picks Detroiter for seat on Michigan Supreme Court
By Craig Mauger - April 23, 2025

Lansing — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday that she's selected Court of Appeals Judge Noah Hood, a native Detroiter, to fill a vacant seat on the Michigan Supreme Court.

Hood is a graduate of Detroit's Cass Technical High School, Yale College and Harvard Law School, according to his official biography. He previously served as a Wayne County Circuit Court judge.

"A proud Detroiter, graduate of Harvard Law and active member of the legal community with both trial and appellate court experience, he will bring important perspectives to the highest court in our state," Whitmer said in a statement. "I want to thank him for his many years of public service and look forward to many more on the Supreme Court."

Hood fills a position on the state's high court that was left vacant after Justice Elizabeth Clement announced in February that she planned to step down. Clement was one of two Republican-nominated justices serving on the seven-member court. Now, with Hood in place, Democratic-backed justices will hold a 6-1 majority.

Whitmer, who is a second-term Democrat, picked Hood for a position on the circuit court in 2019 and then elevated him to the Court of Appeals in 2022.

Before 2019, Hood served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan and the Northern District of Ohio. Hood has been a member of the Detroit Bar Association since 2011, according to the governor's office.

"I have had the distinct honor of serving the people of the state of Michigan for the past six years," Hood said in a statement. "I am deeply grateful to our governor for her decision to appoint me to serve on our Supreme Court. I am also grateful for what it represents.

"For as long as I serve, the people will always be able to count on me for even-handed justice."

Hood will have to run for election to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2026.

He's Whitmer's second Michigan Supreme Court appointment. In November 2022, Whitmer chose then-state Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden, making her the first Black woman to serve on the state's high court.

Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, chairwoman of the state House Judiciary Committee, told reporters Wednesday that she knew little about Hood's background or past rulings. But Lightner said there was now a "super, super majority of liberal judges on the court."

"That's concerning to me," Lightner said.

Also, on Wednesday, Whitmer announced three appointments to the Michigan Court of Appeals, including Christopher Trebilcock, a lawyer who previously represented her campaign in legal matters.

Trebilcock has served as legal counsel for the Whitmer for Governor candidate committee and Michigan Transition 2019, her gubernatorial transition operation. Trebilcock has also been a senior principal at the firm Clark Hill, working in the areas of employment litigation, administrative litigation, traditional labor law and election law, according to the governor's office.

Trebilcock will fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Mark Cavanagh.

“Chris is a skilled attorney who will serve the people admirably,” Whitmer said. “He brings decades of experience in many areas of law to the bench and is making history as the first born-and-raised Yooper on the court of appeals.”

Additionally, Whitmer selected Mariam Bazzi, a Wayne County Circuit Court judge, and Daniel Korobkin, the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, for positions on the Court of Appeals.

Bazzi will fill Hood's term. Korobkin will fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Jane Markey.

Bazzi will be the first Arab-American woman appellate judge in Michigan’s history, according to the governor's office.