Chief Justice Elizabeth A. Weaver (retired)

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Weaver is a daughter of the south. She was born and reared in New Orleans, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Newcomb College, and top ten in her law class at Tulane University Law School, Order of the Coif, and Honor Graduate.

She moved to Michigan, already a lawyer, and began a second career as the dean of girls and French teacher at the private Leelanau School and subsequently as a public school first grade teacher in the Glen Lake Community School, both in the Leelanau Peninsula.

Weaver was first elected in 1974 as the Leelanau County’s probate/juvenile trial judge, a part-time position. She excelled enough to attract national attention (appearing on Good Morning America and in People magazine) for her innovative methods in dealing with recalcitrant youth. She also was a tireless worker for court reform at the trial-court level. She was re-elected twice more to that position. In 1986 she ran for and was elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals. She was re-elected in 1992. She ran for the Michigan Supreme Court in 1994, was re-elected in 2002, and sat on that court until she resigned in August of 2010. She served as chief justice from 1999 to 2001.

In all, she ran for office seven times and was elected each time. As she puts it: “Always elected; never appointed.”

She was, however, appointed by four of Michigan’s Governors to various commissions and committees including:

BY GOVERNOR GRANHOLM
Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice
Chairperson, Taskforce for Children’s Justice on Child Abuse and Neglect

BY GOVERNOR ENGLER
Chairperson, Trial Court Assessment Commission
Chairperson, Taskforce for Children’s Justice on Child Abuse and Neglect
Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice

BY GOVERNOR BLANCHARD
Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice

BY GOVERNOR MILLIKEN
Michigan Commission on Criminal Justice
Michigan Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice

Weaver’s motto was “Do Right and Fear Not.” For more about her interests, activities, service, and her work on the Michigan Supreme Court see her website:  http://www.justiceweaver.com.