Whitmer appoints Cooley law professor to judicial seat in 54A District Court

Ken Palmer, Lansing State Journal
·2 min read
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LANSING – A law professor who once worked as a prosecutor in Ingham and Mecosta counties has been appointed to a vacancy on the 54A District Court bench in Lansing.

Anthony Flores will fill the remainder of a term held by Judge Louise Alderson, who retired in January after two decades with the court, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office said Wednesday in a news release.

M. Anthony Flores
M. Anthony Flores

Flores, of Lansing, is vice chair of faculty governance at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where he also chairs the litigation concentration.

His appointment runs from April 18 through the end of the year. He will have to run for a six-year term this fall if he hopes to remain on the bench after this year.

"I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the city of Lansing as a district court judge," Flores said in the news release. "I am proud to be a part of the Lansing community that has been my home for almost 30 years."

Flores earned his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Colorado. He's been a full-time professor since 2005 and now teaches criminal procedure and evidence.

He began his career with the Mecosta County Prosecutor's Office in 1992 and joined the Ingham County Prosecutor's office in 1994, according to his bio sheet on Cooley's website.

In Ingham County, he was an assistant prosecutor in the district and circuit courts and with the Tri-County Metro Conspiracy Task Force before serving as unit chief for the child abuse and district court sections of the prosecutor's office.

Flores has written about prosecutorial ethics and received training at the Mid-Michigan Police Academy. He's also worked as a criminal defense trial consultant and lectured around the state for the governor's Task Force for Neglect and Abuse Training.

Alderson had been on the 54A bench since 2001. She retired on January 21, the governor's office said.

Whitmer this week also filled vacancies in Jackson County District Court and the state Court of Appeals in the third district.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Tony Flores appointed to fill open judicial seat in 54A District Court