Kurtis T. Wilder facts for kids

Kurtis T. Wilder was born on April 26, 1959. He is a former associate justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Governor Rick Snyder appointed him to this important position in May 2017.

Early Life and Education

Kurtis Wilder was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He went to public schools there and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. After high school, he attended the University of Michigan. In 1981, he earned a degree in political science. He then continued his studies at the University of Michigan Law School, where he earned his law degree in 1984.

After finishing law school, Mr. Wilder worked as a lawyer in private firms. He worked for Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith P.C. in Lansing. Later, he worked for Butzel Long P.C. in Detroit.

A Career in Law and Justice

Becoming a Judge

In March 1992, Governor John Engler chose Kurtis Wilder to be a judge. He became a judge for the Washtenaw County Circuit Court. This court handles many different types of legal cases. In November 1992, the people of Washtenaw County elected him to a full term. He was the first African American judge ever elected in that county.

Serving on the Court of Appeals

In December 1998, Governor Engler promoted Judge Wilder. He moved to the Michigan First District Court of Appeals. This court reviews decisions made by lower courts. Judge Wilder was elected to keep his seat on the Court of Appeals in 2000. He was re-elected three more times, in 2004, 2010, and 2016.

Joining the Michigan Supreme Court

On May 9, 2017, Governor Snyder appointed Kurtis Wilder to the Michigan Supreme Court. This is the highest court in Michigan. He finished the term of the justice who was there before him, Robert P. Young Jr.. His term on the Supreme Court ended in December 2018.

In November 2018, Mr. Wilder ran for election to a full eight-year term on the Supreme Court. However, he was not elected. Megan Cavanagh won the election. After leaving the Supreme Court, he returned to work as a lawyer at Butzel Long.

Awards and Recognition

Kurtis Wilder has received several awards for his work. In July 2017, he received the Honorable Harold Hood Award. This award is given by the Association of Black Judges of Michigan. In October 2018, he was given the Integrity Award from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. He is also a member of the Federalist Society.

Personal Life

Kurtis Wilder lives in Canton, Michigan. He has two children.

See also

• List of justices of the Michigan Supreme Court
• Black conservatism in the United States

Videos

• Justice Kurtis Wilder Investiture. Michigan Supreme Court. October 17, 2017 (1:28:41 mins). YouTube.com.