Biography
Judge Simpson was appointed to the 14A Bench in September of 1999 and served as Chief Judge of the 14A District Court from January 2002 through December 2007. He currently presides over the 14A-1 District Court located at the Washtenaw County Service Center.
Education
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Judge Simpson earned a Bachelor of Science Degree (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland in 1986.
Career
After admission to the State Bar of Michigan and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Judge Simpson joined the firm of Hamilton, McDonald, P.C. as an Associate in December 1986, and continued with Hamilton, McDonald and Simpson in May of 1990 until his appointment to the Bench. His career was primarily devoted to civil and criminal litigation, municipal ordinance enforcement, with a concentration in HUD subsidized housing and landlord/tenant.
The Michigan Supreme Court appointed Judge Simpson as a State Bar Commissioner in 1997. He has been a devoted member of the Washtenaw County Bar Association since 1986, serving as chair of the Race, Ethnic and Gender Bias Committee and ultimately as its President for the 1999 to 2000 term. Judge Simpson is also a Member and past Vice-President of the Vanzetti M. Hamilton Bar Association as well as a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.
Community Involvement
Judge Simpson is a member of numerous civic and charitable organizations, including Community Action Network, the Ypsilanti Corner Health Center, and the Peace Neighborhood Center Advisory Board. The Judge has been named 2000 Man of the Year by Ypsilanti Community Junior Athletic Association, 2002 Jurist of the Year by the Police Officers Association of Michigan and has received the Father Bernard J. O'Conner Award by the Dispute Resolution Center in recognition of outstanding commitment to the practice of just and humane resolution of social conflict.
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