Chief Justice Cavanagh and Justice Hood announce campaigns for Michigan Supreme Court
(Right) Chief Justice of Michigan Megan Cavanagh and (left) Justice Noah Hood. Courtesy photos.
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submitted by Megan Crane, finance director for both campaigns
Current Chief Justice of Michigan Megan Cavanagh and Justice Noah Hood announced that they are running to keep their seats on Michigan’s Supreme Court.
First elected in 2018, Chief Justice Cavanagh is currently completing her first term and was unanimously elected by her colleagues to serve as Chief Justice in 2025. She serves as the Supreme Court Liaison to Tribal Courts, the Michigan Judicial Council, the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and Judicial Security. “I’m running for re-election because the work of strengthening Michigan’s courts – and my commitment to justice – is ongoing,” Cavanagh said. “From improving outcomes for children and families to ensuring our justice system treats every person fairly, I remain committed to making sure the system works for everyone.”
Before joining the Michigan Supreme Court, Chief Justice Cavanagh spent more than 15 years as a leading appellate attorney in Michigan. She served as a shareholder at Garan Lucow Miller P.C. in Detroit, where she handled complex appeals and cases. Cavanagh brought extensive appellate experience and a system-wide perspective to the state’s highest court.
Cavanagh’s commitment to public service has deep roots. She grew up in East Lansing, in a family dedicated to serving Michigan communities. Her father, Mark J. Cavanagh, was also Chief Justice of Michigan, making them the only Father-Daughter Chief Justices in U.S. history. Her mother worked for the Michigan Primary Care Association, supporting migrant health clinics across the state.
Chief Justice Cavanagh believes justice is fundamentally a public service. On the court, Cavanagh has placed particular emphasis on improving outcomes for children and families. Before becoming Chief Justice, she served as the court’s liaison on child welfare issues, working with trial courts, the State Court Administrative Office, and community partners to ensure families interacting with the justice system receive fair treatment and access to legal support.
Justice Hood, a native of Detroit, was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in May 2025 and is running to retain his seat. “It is an incredible honor to serve on Michigan’s highest court,” Justice Hood said. “I’m running to continue working toward a justice system that is fair and accessible for everyone who comes before it.”
Before joining the Supreme Court, Hood served on the Michigan Court of Appeals and as a judge on the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Wayne County, where he presided over felony cases and also oversaw the Veterans Treatment Court. Earlier in his career, Justice Hood served as an Assistant United States Attorney in both the Eastern District of Michigan and the Northern District of Ohio, prosecuting fraud, public corruption, and other complex financial crimes.
The son of a federal judge and a Detroit pastor, Hood says his commitment to justice was shaped by a family tradition of public service and faith. His work on the bench has focused on fairness, addressing the root causes of crime, and ensuring Michigan’s justice system works for all Michiganders.
“I’ve seen firsthand the commitment that Chief Justice Cavanagh and Justice Hood bring to serving the people of Michigan,” said Nick Andrews, President of the Michigan Association for Justice. “Their leadership on the Supreme Court reflects a deep understanding that the justice system must serve real people and families, and they bring integrity and thoughtfulness to that responsibility every day.”
Chief Justice Cavanagh and Justice Hood are running to continue strengthening Michigan’s courts. For more information, please visit their respective websites at https://www.noahhoodforjustice.com/ and https://cavanaghforjustice.com/.
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