Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Joan Larsen to the Michigan Supreme Court today.
Larsen will replace outgoing state Supreme Court justice Mary Beth Kelly who will leave the court tomorrow (Oct. 1) to return to private practice.
Larsen is a faculty member at the University of Michigan Law School and special counsel to the dean for student and graduate activities.
She earned her law degree from Northwestern and graduated magna cum laude. She once clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, and was deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel, where, according to her U-M biography:
“… she provided advice to the White House, the attorney general, and government agencies regarding constitutional and statutory law.”
Here’s a short interview with Larsen produced by the UM Law School:
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ronna Romney McDaniel released the following statement on Larsen’s appointment:
“The appointment of Joan Larsen to the Michigan Supreme Court ensures that we will have another rule-of-law justice on the bench. I’m confident she will be an excellent addition and will serve our highest court well. I applaud Gov. Rick Snyder for his selection.”
And Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette also sang her praises. His statement:
“I am delighted with the appointment of Joan Larsen as the new Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. She will be a strong voice for rule of law for the State of Michigan."
