OAKLAND COUNTY

52nd District Court

Brian W. MacKenzie


Judge MacKenzie is Chief Judge Pro Tem for the four divisions of the 52nd District Court, as well as being the Presiding Judge of the 1st Division. In 2001, he was honored by the Foundation for the Improvement of Justice with its annual award for significant contributions to the American criminal justice system. He has also received several other awards for his domestic violence and drunk driving prevention programs. In addition to these award-winning programs, he started a program designed to reduce adolescent alcohol and tobacco use. He planned the 52-1 District Court's new Sobriety Court. The Judge originated a program designed to educate students about the courts by conducting sessions of court in the high school and directed the creation of the Court's web site. He inaugurated the first Judicial Town Hall meetings in the State of Michigan. In 2000, Judge MacKenzie was appointed by The Michigan Supreme Court as coordinating judge for a pilot project involving community outreach and trial court performance standards.

Judge MacKenzie received his Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School in 1974. He began serving the public as a Law Clerk at the Michigan Attorney General's Office, Organized Crime Division. Upon graduation and admittance to the practice of law in 1974, he joined the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. In 1979, he returned to the Michigan Attorney General's Office as an Assistant Attorney General were he remained until he was appointed to the 52nd District Court, 1st Division, in March of 1988.

During his term at the District Court, Judge MacKenzie has remained active within the community. He has or is serving as a member of the Novi Library Board, Board of the Novi Land Conservancy, Novi Chamber of Commerce, Huron Valley Network, Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce, Chair of Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club and Chair of Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Judge MacKenzie is married to Karen MacKenzie. He has three children: Kate, David and Breanna.