LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the following judicial appointments:

Court of Appeals, 1st District

Cynthia Stephens of Detroit, current judge of the 3rd Circuit Court, is appointed as judge of the Court of Appeals for the 1st Appellate District, which serves Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee, Hillsdale and Calhoun Counties, for a term expiring January 1, 2011.  She replaces Judge Helene White who was recently appointed and confirmed to the Federal bench.  Stephens earned her law degree from Emory University and her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

Court of Appeals, 3rd District

Douglas Shapiro of Ann Arbor, current partner with Muth and Shapiro law firm, is appointed judge of the Court of Appeals for the 3rd Appellate District, which serves west and southwest Michigan and extends east to include Eaton, Jackson and Washtenaw Counties, for a term expiring January 1, 2011.  He will replace Judge Michael Smolenski who has resigned.  Shapiro earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

55th District Court

Donald Allen of Lansing, current director of the Michigan Office of Drug Control Policy, is appointed judge of the 55th District Court, which serves all of Ingham County, with the exception of Lansing and East Lansing, for a term expiring January 1, 2011.  He will replace Judge Rosemarie Aquilina who was recently elected judge of the 30th Circuit Court.  Allen earned his law and bachelors' degrees from Wayne State University.

3rd Circuit Court

Eric Cholack of Northville, current shareholder with the Lange & Cholack law firm, is appointed judge of the 3rd Circuit Court, which serves Wayne County, for a term expiring January 1, 2011.  He will replace Judge Diane Hathaway who was recently elected to the Michigan Supreme Court.  Cholack earned his law degree from Harvard Law School and his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

These appointments are not subject to disapproval by the Michigan Senate.

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