Former Wayne County Third Circuit Chief Judge Timothy Kenny Addressed the Club on March 28
Chief Judge Timothy M. Kenny served on the Third Circuit Court Wayne County bench for 26 years. He served as Chief Judge from 2019 through2022. The court is the largest in the state and one of the largest in the country. There are 58 judges and approximately 600 staff serving the Third Circuit Court. Before becoming chief judge, Judge Kenny served nine years as Presiding Judge of the 23-judge Criminal Division of the Court.
During the height of the pandemic, Chief Judge Kenny led the Third Circuit Court through the pandemic crisis, and the adjustment to remote judicial services, as well as the Court’s work with the County to design a new Criminal Division Courthouse. Chief Judge Kenny was also responsible for monitoring inmate population and health concerns at the Wayne County Jails, which prepandemic housed 1,800 inmates in three separate locations.
In 2010, Judge Kenny was selected as one of Michigan’s Leaders in the Law by Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly. In 2011, he received the Pioneer of JusticeAward from the Legal Aid and Defender Association. He has also been a frequent presenter for the Michigan Judicial Institute.
Before becoming a judge, Judge Kenny served for 20 years as an assistant Wayne County prosecutor. During his tenure in the Prosecutor’s Office, he served as a chief trial attorney and a special assistant U.S. attorney. During his service as a prosecuting attorney, Judge Kenny received the Leonard Gilman Award from the Federal Bar Association for outstanding practice of criminal law. He also spent several years in the private practice of law.
Chief Judge Kenny is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota Law School.
Judge Kenny spoke to our Club about the new Wayne County Jail.
For pictures from the meeting, see
Judge Kenny March 28 2023.