Whitmer Appoints New Judge To Royal Oak, Berkley Court

ROYAL OAK, MI — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday appointed Andrew Kowalkowski to be a judge in the 44th District Court, which serves Royal Oak and Berkley, according to the governor's office.

Kowalkowski currently works as an administrative law examiner with the Michigan Department of State. Before that, he worked as an associate attorney at The Barone Defense Firm and Pierce, Farrell, Tafelski and Wells PLC.

Kowalkowski also had his own general practice firm where he concentrated on criminal defense, drunk driving litigation, license restoration, implied consent, license appeals, and family law.

"I am honored and humbled to be appointed to the 44th District Court bench by Governor Whitmer," Kowalkowski said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing my civil service, now in the community that my family calls home. I promise to oversee a fair and equitable courtroom, ensuring equal access to justice for all who seek it."

Whitmer appointed Kowalkowski to fill a partial term that runs through Jan. 1, 2025 after Judge Jamie Wittenberg died of cancer in November. He will have to run for reelection in November 2024 if he wishes to complete Wittenberg's term, which ends Jan. 1, 2029.

"Andrew will serve the people of Royal Oak and Berkley admirably," Whitmer said in a statement. "He brings a wealth of legal experience to the bench, and I('m) confident that he will uphold the rule of law and serve his community by ensuring equal justice for all."