Served from 2013 through present
Justice David F. Viviano was appointed to the Supreme Court on February 27, 2013, by Governor Rick Snyder. Justice Viviano was previously a judge of the Macomb County Circuit Court, to which he was elected in 2006, and served in that court’s criminal/civil division. In 2011, the Supreme Court appointed him to serve not only as chief judge of the circuit court, but also of the Macomb County Probate Court. As chief judge, he oversaw the operations of both courts, including spearheading the circuit court’s e-filing pilot project and other technological innovations.
In 2012, Justice Viviano was among those honored, along with the Michigan Supreme Court, with the G. Thomas Munsterman Award for Jury Innovation by the National Center for State Courts. Then-Judge Viviano and 11 other judges were selected by the Supreme Court to test a comprehensive package of jury reforms in a 2010-2011 pilot project; the Supreme Court adopted many of the reforms in September 2011. The National Center for State Courts praised the Supreme Court, Justice Viviano, and the other pilot project judges for their “courage and commitment” in pursuing jury reform.
Before becoming a judge, Justice Viviano worked at two nationally-recognized law firms, Dickinson Wright PLLC in Detroit and Jenner & Block LLC in Chicago. He then founded his own law firm in Mt. Clemens, Viviano and Viviano PLLC, where he concentrated his practice in commercial and criminal litigation, zoning, and real estate law. He also served as city attorney for the city of Center Line.
Justice Viviano graduated in 1994 from Hillsdale College with highest honors and from the University of Michigan Law School in 1996.
Justice Viviano is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Macomb County Bar Association, the Italian American Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association. He also serves on the Macomb Advisory Board of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.