Judge Thomas E. Brennan, Jr., Retired

Biographical Info

HONORABLE THOMAS E. BRENNAN, JR.
Judge of the District Court, Retired

15222 Classic Drive
Bath, MI 48808
Cell: (517) 980-0244
Email: thomasbrennanjr@gmail.com

EDUCATION
• Diploma – Catholic Central, Detroit, Michigan 1970
• Bachelor of Science degree –
Criminal Justice, Michigan State University 1974
• Juris Doctor – Thomas M. Cooley Law School 1978

PROFESSIONAL LICENSE
• Admitted to the Bar, Michigan 1978

LEGAL EXPERIENCE
• Abood and Abood, legal intern 1977
• McGinty, Brown, Jakubiak and Halverson, PC, associate 1978-79
• Klug and Brennan, PC, partner 1979-81
• Law office of Thomas E. Brennan, Jr., sole practitioner 2005-2019

PUBLIC OFFICES
 Elected, Ingham County Board of Commissioners 1978
 Elected, Ingham County 55th District Court Judge
1980, 1986, 1992, 1998
 Candidate, Michigan Court of Appeals 2002

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE
 Judge, Michigan District Court 1981-2004
Presiding Judge 1987-1991 and 1995-2004

ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION EXPERIENCE
 Private ADR practice 2005-present

JUDICIAL EDUCATION
• American Academy of Judicial Education,
Trial Judges Academy 1985
 National Judicial College,
Search and Seizure Specialty Session 1981
Special Court Jurisdiction Session 1983
Alcohol, Drugs and the Courts Session 1988
Ethics for Judges Session 1993
 Michigan Judicial Institute, Annual Seminars 1981-2004

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION
 THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL
District Court Practice 1982
• MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Criminal Law, Evidence Law, Criminal Procedure Law 1983-1989
Criminal Procedure Law 2007-2018
• LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Criminal Procedure Law 2006-2019
Criminal Law 2010-2019
• MICHIGAN INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
Laws on Drunk Driving 1988
• MICHIGAN JUDICIAL INSTITUTE
Ethics for Probation Officers 1996

CERTIFICATIONS
• State Court Administrative Office Mediation Training 2002
• National Drug Court Institute,
Adult Drug Court Planning Initiative 2003

PROFESSIONAL BOARD ACTIVITIES
• Member and secretary,
Thomas M. Cooley Law School Board of Directors 1979-1989
• Thomas M. Cooley Law School Board of Directors 1999-2005
• Advisory Board, Cooley Innocence Project 1999-2002
• Advisory Board,
MSU School of Criminal Justice Alumni Association 2004-2010
• Ingham County Bar Association Board of Directors 2003-2012
• State Bar of Michigan, subcommittee on Judicial Ethics 1988-1994
• American Bar Association,
Judicial Administration Division Council 1983-1985
• Michigan District Judges Association Board of Directors 1992-1998
• Michigan Community Corrections Board 1993-2001
• Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency,
Public Defense Task Force 2005-2008
• (Founding), Catholic Bar Association of America 2016-2019
• Olivet College Board of Directors 2017-present

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
• Mediator, Ingham County 30th Circuit Court 2005-present
• Arbitrator, Michigan Employment Relations Commission 2006-2010

DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS
• Recipient, Thomas M. Cooley Law School Alumni Association
Distinguished Alumnus Award 1983
• Inclusion, 1985 Edition of Outstanding Young Men of America
Who’s Who in the Midwest and Who’s Who in America 1985
• Inducted, MSU Criminal Justice Alumni Association Wall of Fame 2010
• Fellow, Michigan State Bar Foundation 1997-present

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS
• Ingham County Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan
• American Bar Association
• Ingham County Trial Judges Association
• Michigan District Judges Association
• American Judges Association

SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
• Charter member, Rotary of Mason 1985
• Rotary of East Lansing 1986-1997
• Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers
• Irish American Club of Lansing
• MSU Downtown Coaches Club (past president 1990)
• Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree
• Catholic Lawyers Guild of Lansing Diocese (past president)
• Co-chairperson,
Catholic Diocese of Lansing Diocesan Services Appeal 2004

CHARITABLE EVENTS
• Organizer, Legal Eagles v MSU Spartans Broomball Game
Benefiting Boys and Girls Club of Lansing 1981-2006
• Chair, Detroit Red Wings v MSU Alumni Hockey Game
Benefiting Children Miracle Network 1992-1998
• Chair, JDRF Walk to Cure 2005
• Organizer, ADA Fast Break for a Cure 2005-2007