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Richard A. Bandstra
Judge Bandstra was elected to the Court in 1994; he served as its Chief Judge Pro Tem from 1996 to 1997 and as its Chief Judge from 1998 to 2001. As a judge, he worked in Bratislava during 1998 and in 1999 on an ABA project that helped develop legislation to establish independence for the Slovakian courts. Before taking the bench, Judge Bandstra was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives with a constituency in Grand Rapids. While in Lansing, he served on the House Judiciary Committee, helped draft the power sharing agreement by which the equally split House chamber was jointly controlled by Republicans and Democrats from 1993 to 1994 and served as Floor Leader during that period. Judge Bandstra was previously an attorney in private practice with Warner, Norcross and Judd. He received his law degree and a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Chicago, where he served on the Law Review. Judge Bandstra earned his bachelor’s degree at Calvin College in Grand Rapids.
Term expires January 1, 2015.
Jane M. Beckering
Judge Beckering was appointed to the Court in 2007, and elected to retain the seat in 2008. Before taking the bench, Judge Beckering was an
attorney in private practice for 17 years. She began her career at McDermott, Will & Emery, P.C. in Chicago,
Illinois, whereafter she returned to her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan and later founded the law firm
of Buchanan & Beckering, PLC. Judge Beckering has served on a number of bar organizations and committees and
participated regularly as a guest lecturer to students and lawyers regarding various aspects of the law.
She received her undergraduate degree (with distinction) from the University of Michigan and her law degree (cum laude)
from the University of Wisconsin. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Hillman Trial Advocacy Program,
which instructs and mentors young lawyers.
Term expires January 1, 2013.
Joel P. Hoekstra
Judge Hoekstra was elected to the Court in 1994. Previously, he worked as an assistant
Kent County prosecuting attorney, as a district court judge, and as an adjunct faculty
member of Calvin College. Judge Hoekstra received his bachelor's degree from Calvin
College and his law degree from Valparaiso University.
Term expires January 1, 2011.
Jane E. Markey
Judge Markey was elected to the Court in 1994. Previously, she had served as a district
court judge, she was a prehearing attorney and law clerk for the Michigan Court of
Appeals, and she worked as an attorney in private practice. Judge Markey received
her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and her law degree from Thomas
M. Cooley Law School.
Term expires January 1, 2015.
William B. Murphy
Judge Murphy was appointed to the Court in 1988. Previously, he was a member of the
East Grand Rapids City Commission, a law clerk for the Michigan Court of Appeals,
and he worked as an attorney in private practice. Judge Murphy received his bachelor's
degree from Michigan State University and his law degree from Wayne State University.
Term expires January 1, 2013.
David H. Sawyer
Judge Sawyer was elected to the Court in 1986. Previously, he was the Kent County Prosecuting
Attorney and a criminal justice teacher at Grand Rapids Junior College. Judge Sawyer
received his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona and his law degree from
Valparaiso School of Law.
Term expires January 1, 2011.
Douglas B. Shapiro
Douglas B. Shapiro was born in 1954 New York City, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in
History with high distinction from the University of Michigan in 1983. He received his Juris
Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, in 1986. He also studied
at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland.
Following law school, Judge Shapiro served as a law clerk to Justice James Brickley of the
Michigan Supreme Court from 1986 thru 1989. From 1989-1990 he served as an assistant at the
State Appellate Defenders Office in Detroit and for the year following, as a staff attorney
with the Center Social Gerontology, a national elderly agency based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
In 1991, he joined the practice of Muth and Fett, PC, a law firm in Ypsilanti, Michigan,
specializing in personal injury litigation. He became a partner in the firm of Muth and
Shapiro, PC, in 1995, where he continued trial and appellate practice through his appointment
on February 2, 2009, as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Term expires January 1, 2011.
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