The Michigan Supreme Court has appointed the Hon. Derek W. Meinecke chief judge of the 44th District Court.
Meinecke won election to the 44th District Court in 2012, after serving for more than 10 years in the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office in the special victims unit, focusing on domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse and sexual assault.
In 2011, he won the Courage to Lead Award from Oakland County S.A.V.E. (Serving Adults who are Vulnerable and/or Elderly) for his efforts to prevent elder abuse, and in 2009 he awarded the Domestic Violence Prevention Award from Oakland County Coordinating Council Against Domestic Violence for his work to end domestic violence, prosecute abusers, empower victims and educate police officers and members of the community about the dynamics of abuse.
Meinecke earned his law degree at Wayne State University and worked as a law clerk to the Hon. Daniel Sawicki prior to his work in the prosecutors office.
Posted by Samantha Meinke