Northwest Wayne News

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Feb. 3 announced the latest appointments to the bench. 

According to a press release by the Office of Gretchen Whitmer, David M. Cohen, Kenneth S. Hoopes and Jennifer L. Whitten are the appointees who will serve in the 6th Circuit Court of Oakland County, 14th Circuit Court of Muskegon County and the Grand Traverse County Probate Court, respectively.

"These three new appointees will bring extensive legal experience to the bench in Southeast, Western, and Northern Michigan," Whitmer said, according to the release. "I appreciate David, Kenneth, and Jennifer for stepping up to serve their fellow Michiganders, and I am confident that they will faithfully uphold state law." 

David M. Cohen currently serves as an administrative law manager with the Detroit office of the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules, providing supervision to 21 administrative law judges in the areas of unemployment and MERC. Previously, Cohen served as an administrative law judge in the field of general adjudication. Before his role as an administrative law judge, Cohen was an attorney at The Samuel Bernstein Law Firm, where he practiced in personal injury, ADA disability rights, and administrative legal matters. He also worked as a personal injury attorney at Rothstein, Erlich & Rothstein, according to the release.

 "It is a privilege and honor to be selected to serve the citizens of Oakland County and State of Michigan," Cohen said in the release. "I will treat all who appear before me, with impartiality, respect, and dignity." 

The release reports that Kenneth S. Hoopes currently serves as an attorney with Ladas & Hoopes Law Offices, PLC, where he specializes in plaintiff personal injury, probate and estate planning, and social security disability. He has also worked in criminal defense and family law, including divorce and custody cases. Hoopes previously served as a contract attorney with the Muskegon County Public Defender's Office.

"This appointment is an opportunity to continue and ensure civility in our courts with equal access to justice for all individuals no matter their walk of life," Hoopes said, according to the release. "I am so very thankful to Governor Whitmer for giving me this opportunity. I cannot wait to begin serving the Muskegon County community as its next circuit court judge." 

Jennifer L. Whitten is a partner with Alward, Fisher, Rice, Rowe & Graf, PLC, where she specializes in family and probate court matters and estate planning. Whitten previously served as a contract attorney for the Grand Traverse County Probate Court representing juveniles in juvenile delinquency matters, parents in abuse and neglect cases, and other individuals in in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. She has also served as an assistant prosecutor for Ingham County, per the release.

"I am humbled and honored to have been appointed Probate Court Judge for Grand Traverse County, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my community," Whitten said, according to the release. "In my practice, I have worked hard to serve my clients with compassion, integrity, and respect, and as Judge, I will continue to practice those ideals."