About the Society

Mission Statement

The Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1988 by then-Chief Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley. The mission of the Society is to collect, preserve, and display documents, records, and memorabilia relating to the Michigan Supreme Court and the other Courts of Michigan, promote the study of the history of Michigan’s courts, and seek to increase public awareness of Michigan’s legal heritage.

The Society sponsors and conducts historical research, provides educational materials for students, and sponsors and provides publications, portraits and memorials, special events, and other projects consistent with its mission.

Society dues are $150.00 annually for individuals and $1,000.00 for law firms and other groups. Attorneys who have appeared in a calendared case before the Michigan Supreme Court may join the Advocates Guild for an additional $50.00 per year on top of their Advocates Guild membership.

Click here to pay online.

The link will take you to PayPal. Once there, click the Send button and then you will be prompted to add the amount that you would like to donate. Contributions to the Society, a nonprofit 501c(3), are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you for supporting the Society’s work!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers:

• President: Carl W. Herstein
  
• Vice President: Lawrence P. Nolan
  
• Secretary: Hon. Denise Langford Morris
  
• Treasurer: Joseph J. Gavin
  

Board of Directors:

Mark Bendure, Hon. Fred L. Borchard, Lori A. Buiteweg, Hon. Michael F. Cavanagh, Bruce A. Courtade, Gregory J. DeMars, Peter H. Ellsworth, John G. Fedynsky, Julie I. Fershtman, Joseph J. Gavin, Deborah Gordon, Matthew C. Herstein, Hon. Mary Beth Kelly, Hon. Stephen J. Markman, Mary Massaron, Shenique A. Moss,  John D. Pirich, Hon. Angela K. Sherigan, Hon. Victoria A. Valentine, Janet K. Welch, Jill M. Wheaton

Directors Emeritus

*Deceased