Press Release

Judge Nicholson Receives MSU Distinguished Alumni Award

Pontiac, MI, April 7, 2008 Oakland County 52-3 District Court Judge Julie A. Nicholson has been awarded the 2008 Honorable George N. Bashara `60 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Michigan State University College of Law.

The award, named after Judge Bashara who was a State Appeals Court judge and a former president of the Board of Trustees for the MSU College of Law, is presented annually to recognize distinguished service to the college, the legal profession and the community.

I am incredibly honored to join the ranks of those who have received this prestigious award, Judge Nicholson said. As a graduate of both Michigan State University and Detroit College of Law, I believe both institutions provided me with the academic and service training necessary to succeed in the legal field.  I am so proud to have been a part of such fine schools.

After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration/pre-law from Michigan State University and her juris doctorate from the Detroit College of Law where she was cum laude and a member of the Law Review, Judge Nicholson entered private practice. She worked for the Potter, Carniak and the Barbier, Tolleson Law Firms where she specialized in highway liability, environmental litigation, insurance defense litigation, nursing home litigation and personal injury matters.

Judge Nicholson was first elected to the 52-3 District Court bench in Rochester Hills in 1996 from a field of 13 candidates in a very competitive election.

She was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court as Chief Judge of all four divisions of the 52nd District Court in 2000 and served in that capacity until 2003.  Judge Nicholson presently serves as Chief Judge Pro Tem.

Her tenure on the court has been marked by numerous innovative programs. In September 1997, Judge Nicholson instituted the widely acclaimed and highly successful Court in the Schools / Critical Life Choices program.  Judge Nicholson actually takes her courtroom into middle and high schools where she holds official court sessions and imposes sentences. Afterward she spends an hour discussing with the 200-400 students normally in attendance the ramifications of the critical life choices that will confront them in the years ahead. 

Another noteworthy program Judge Nicholson has implemented during her eleven and a half years on the bench is Have to Choose.  This program is aimed at preventing substance abuse in those high schools within the 52-3 District Court jurisdiction. She attempts to educate teens about substance abuse issues and the opportunities for making healthy choices.

Judge Nicholson is also actively involved in the community. She serves on the board of the Rainbow Connection, a Rochester Hills based charity that grants wishes to children with life threatening or terminal illnesses and the North Oakland YWCA.  Her other community-based work includes the Rochester/Auburn Hills Coalition for the Prevention of Substance Abuse; American Cancer Association; Oakland County Coordinating Council Against Domestic Violence; the Greater Rochester, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion/Oxford Chambers of Commerce and the Editorial Advisory Committee for Crime Victims Rights.

Past recipients of the George N. Bashara `60 Distinguished Alumni Award include David Christensen, Honorable Bernard Friedman and the Honorable Dennis Archer.  Judge Nicholson will receive her award on May 9th during commencement ceremonies at the MSU College of Law.

For media inquiries only, please contact Bob Dustman, Media and Communications Officer, at (248) 858-1048.
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