Kurtis T. Wilder facts for kids

Kurtis T. Wilder (born April 26, 1959) is a former judge who served on the highest court in Michigan, called the Michigan Supreme Court. He was appointed in May 2017 by Governor Rick Snyder.

About Kurtis Wilder

Kurtis Wilder has had a long and important career in law. He served as a judge in different courts in Michigan for many years. This includes the Circuit Court, the Court of Appeals, and finally the Michigan Supreme Court.

Early Life and Education

Kurtis Wilder was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 26, 1959. He went to public schools there and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School.

After high school, he attended the University of Michigan. He earned a degree in political science in 1981. He then continued his studies at the University of Michigan Law School. In 1984, he earned his law degree, which is called a Juris Doctor.

Becoming a Judge

After finishing law school, Kurtis Wilder worked as a lawyer. He worked for private law firms in Lansing and Detroit.

Serving on the Circuit Court

In March 1992, Governor John Engler appointed Mr. Wilder to be a judge. He became a judge for the Washtenaw County Circuit Court. This court handles many different types of cases, both civil and criminal.

Later that year, in November 1992, Mr. Wilder was elected to a full term as a judge. He was the first African American judge ever elected in Washtenaw County.

Moving to the Court of Appeals

In December 1998, Governor Engler appointed Mr. Wilder to a higher court. He became a judge on the Michigan First District Court of Appeals. This court reviews decisions made by lower courts.

He was elected to this position in 2000. He was re-elected three more times, in 2004, 2010, and 2016.

On 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 previous justice, Robert P. Young Jr..

In November 2018, Mr. Wilder ran for election to a full eight-year term on the Supreme Court. However, he was not elected. He was defeated by Megan Cavanagh. After leaving the Supreme Court, he returned to working as a lawyer.

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. This award came from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.

He is also a member of the Federalist Society, a group focused on legal principles.

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.