Judge O'Grady will seek Republican nomination for Michigan Supreme Court
Branch County 15th Circuit Judge Patrick William O’Grady announced Friday that he will seek the Republican party nomination for the Michigan Supreme Court.
After talking to Pete Hoekstra, the new chairman of the Michigan GOP, O’Grady decided to seek the nomination at the Aug. 1 party convention.
In his announcement, he said that after 15 years on the trial bench, presiding over thousands of civil and criminal cases, “I fully understand the significance of being a Rule of Law Judge.”
O’Grady said, “I take my duty to remain impartial in all civil and criminal matters seriously. I will not legislate from the bench; rather, I will simply apply the law as written.”
The judge obtained his law degree from Cooley Law School during the six years he served as a Michigan State Police trooper working in the Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor posts.
O’Grady then served as an assistant prosecutor for eight years in Branch County before winning a contested election to the circuit bench in November 2008. He was re-elected in 2014 and 2020. His current term ends in 2026.
The judge said, “Throughout my career, I have dedicated my life to justice by enforcing the law and protecting the innocent.”
A father of three, the 53-year-old judge and his wife, Wendy, live in Coldwater. She is employed at Hillsdale College.
During his tenure in criminal cases, O’Grady said he saw both physical and emotional scars on crime victims and communities, “From direct experiences or from witnessing the turmoil in communities — a turmoil that extends across the nation. In these moments, citizens rightfully demand justice.”
O’Grady said, “As a Rule of Law Justice, I will prioritize governance rooted in the letter of our laws, not the whims of our leaders. As a Rule of Law Justice, I will protect the rights of all and make Michigan safe for our families."
The judge said he would discuss the challenges facing the court with Republican leadership, district chairs, county party leaders, delegates, and all involved in selecting candidates for the upcoming November election.
Although judicial elections are non-partisan, both parties select slates of candidates.
Judge O’Grady will seek the seat held by Justice Kyra Harris Bolden. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Bolden in 2022 to replace Bridget Mary McCormack, who retired.
Bolden will seek reelection to complete the last four years of an eight-year term.
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Justice David Viviano, appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2013, announced his retirement.
Rep. Andrew Fink (R-Adams Twp.) and Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Mark Boonstra said they plan to seek the Republican nomination to replace Viviano.
-- Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Circuit Judge O'Grady seeks Republican nomination state Supreme Court
