Livingston County 44th Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty is stepping down from the bench.
In a letter to staffers on Monday, Jan. 8, Hatty said his resignation will be effective at the end of the day on Sunday, March 17.
“It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with you all these past 15 years,” Hatty wrote, “especially as the Chief Judge of the District and Circuit Courts since 2020.”
The vacancy has been advertised on the Michigan Bar Association website. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will appoint someone to fill out the rest of his term, which will then be up for re-election in November.
Hatty 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 became chief judge on Jan. 1, 2020.
Hatty, who will turn 70 before the November election, is ineligible to run for another term.
Hatty ran unsuccessfully for the Michigan State Senate as a Democrat in 1994 against Republican Mike Rogers.
Prior to taking the bench, Hatty worked in private practice for 29 years in a wide range of areas, including criminal law, general civil law, real estate law, family law, business law, and municipal law. He also served as township general counsel for 24 years and taught business law. During law school, Hatty worked for various Senate committees, as well as in the criminal division of the Michigan Attorney General.
UPDATED to include the date Hatty’s resignation becomes effective.
