Snyder appoints Margaret Van Houten to the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County

LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of Margaret Van Houten, of Dearborn Heights, to the Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit.

"Margaret is a great choice for this post," said Snyder.  "I am confident her knowledge, skills and extensive experiences will be an asset to the Wayne County Circuit bench."

Van Houten has been in private practice since 2000. She previously worked as an associate attorney for Evans & Luptak PLC and as a law clerk for now Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian Zahra. Van Houten is a city councilwoman in her fourth term for Dearborn Heights. She works with professional organizations, including the State Bar of Michigan, Federalist Society - Michigan Lawyers Chapter, Oakland County Bar Association, Wayne County Probate Bar Association, Dearborn Bar Association, American Bar Association, Italian American Bar Association, and the Catholic Lawyers Society. Van Houten holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Van Houten's appointment fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Mary Beth Kelly, who was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court. She will serve a term that ends Jan. 1, 2013, and will have to seek election in 2012.

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