Retired Livingston County Chief Judge Judge Michael Hatty of Brighton has been appointed to the Michigan Appellate Defender Commission by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Hatty, currently a visiting judge and facilitator, was chief judge of Livingston County’s 44th Circuit Court and 53rd District Court; he also presided over Livingston County’s business and adult drug treatment courts before he retired on March 17, 2024.
The Michigan Supreme Court appointed Hatty to serve as chief judge of the county’s courts in 2020. He was first appointed to the bench in 2009 by then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm after Circuit Court Judge Stanley Latreille retired. Hatty ran for a partial term in 2010, and then won re-election to six-year terms in 2012 and 2018.
He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and business from Western Michigan University, and a juris doctorate degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Hatty is appointed as a member recommended by the Michigan Judges Association for a term beginning Aug. 7, 2025, and expiring May 24, 2029.
The Michigan Appellate Defender Commission is responsible for developing a system of indigent appellate defense services, which shall include services provided by the office of the state appellate defender and locally appointed private counsel. The Commission will be responsible for develop9ng minimum standards to which all indigent criminal defense appellate services shall conform, and will compile and keep current a statewide roster of attorneys eligible for and willing to accept appointment by an appropriate court to serve as criminal appellate defense counsel for indigent defendants.
This appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
