Судья Макомба Диана Друзински удостоена престижной награды за пожизненные достижения

Retired Macomb County Circuit Judge Diane Druzinski has received the prestigious Lifetime Judicial Achievement Award presented by the Michigan Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Druzinski, who left the bench in January, is the first judge from the county to receive the award, which recognizes recipients for their work and rulings in civil cases over their career. The award has been given mostly annually since 2001, though it was not awarded in six of the 26 years. “The Lifetime Judicial Achievement Award is awarded to those who have given many years of judicial service,” the board says. “Through their Decisions, they have exemplified the level of professionalism and integrity that uphold the best traditions of the bench.” Druzinski served on the bench for 23 years, presiding high-level criminal and civil cases. The 16th Judicial Circuit Court (Macomb) congratulated Druzinski last week on its Facebook page. The award was announced in July. “This award recognizes Judge Druzinski’s many years of judicial service, her professionalism, and her integrity while on the bench with the Circuit Court,” said the court. Druzinski received over 60 congratulations messages on social media, including from County Executive Mark Hackel, who wrote on LinkedIn the award was “well deserved.“ “Macomb County residents were well served with compassion, integrity and respect from having Diane on the bench,” Hackel said. The national organization says it is “invitation-only national association of over 7,000 highly experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials.” The award has been given in recent years to two state Supreme Court chief justices, Elizabeth Clement and Bridget McCormack, as well as several state appeals judges and federal judges. Druzinski was only the fourth state circuit judge to be awarded. Druzinski was first elected to the Macomb bench in Mount Clemens in 2002, was re-elected to three 6-year terms and nearing the end of her fourth term when she retired. Michigan has a mandatory retirement at 70. During her tenure, she served for a time as a judge in the Adult Felony Drug Court. Judge Tanya Grillo was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to replace Druzinski. Grillo, who is running unopposed for the seat in November, was moved to the family division, and Judge Rachel Rancilio, who had been in the family division, is handling Druzinski’s former docket. Before she became a judge, Druzinski practiced with the law firm of Thomas, Garvey, Garvey & Sciotti and served as a case evaluator for the 16th Circuit Court. She graduated from Oakland University Summa Cum Laude and received her Juris Doctorate, Magna Cum Laude, from University of Detroit Mercy in 1994.