May 13, 2015
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of George “Jay” Quist, of Grand Rapids, to the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County.
“In more than three years serving on the family court bench, Judge Quist has distinguished himself as a hard-working and thoughtful jurist capable of efficiently managing a busy docket while paying careful attention to what the law requires,” Snyder said. “I am confident he will continue to serve the people of Kent County well as he transitions into this new role.”
Quist began his legal career as a civil litigator with the Grand Rapids law firm Kluczynski, Girtz & Vogelzang and then joined the firm of Roberts Betz & Bloss. He was appointed to the Workers’ Compensation Board of Magistrates in 1999 and then served as chief magistrate beginning in January 2011. Quist served as director of employment services for the Michigan Administrative Hearing System in the state’s Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs. He was appointed to the Kent County Family Court in 2012, where he has instituted continual changes in the courtroom for efficiency and fairness.
Quist earned a bachelor’s degree from Hope College and a law degree from George Washington University. He transitions from the Kent County Family Court to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of James Redford who now serves as legal counsel to Snyder.
Quist will stand for election in 2016 for a full six-year term.
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