Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of Yvonne C. Abraham to the bench at the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County, the largest county in the State of Michigan. She is the first Palestinian to be appointed to such a position in Michigan if not the US.

Whitmer expressed his pride in appointing Abraham as a “talented legal professional who will bring a wealth of experience and passion for public service to the bench in Michigan,” while pointing that she has “deep roots in her community that will help her serve the public effectively.”

Abraham currently serves as the magistrate and director of probation for the 20th District Court in Dearborn Heights. She also serves as a faculty member for the Michigan Judicial Institute New Magistrate Training Seminar.

Abraham previously served as a judicial attorney with the Wayne County Circuit Court and as a solo practitioner. She also served as an adjunct professor at Lawrence Technological University teaching courses in business law.

Abraham, who hails from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

She is the President of the Michigan Association of District Court Magistrates, and a member of the State Bar Judicial Ethics Committee, State Court Administrator's Office court forms committee, and Women Lawyer Association of Michigan. She is also a member of the Henry Ford College Business Advisory Board, the Wayne Mental Health Advisory Board, the Arab American Women’s Business Council Board, and HYPE Athletics Community Board. Yvonna lives in Dearborn Heights with her husband Marwan and daughter Lena.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen by the Governor to serve on the Wayne County Circuit Court bench,” said Abraham. “As a magistrate, I understand the importance of fair and impartial proceedings and distributing justice with uncompromising integrity. I look forward to serving the people of Wayne County and the people of Michigan.”

Abraham’s appointment was made to fill a partial term, which expires on January 1, 2023.