Judge
Patrick William O'Grady
For Michigan Supreme Court Justice
Proven Protector & Public Servant
Patrick William "Bill" O'Grady served as the chief judge for the 15th Circuit Court, and the Probate Court in Branch County, Michigan on numerous occasions, the last ending in Dec 2023. He was elected to the 15th Circuit Court bench in 2008 in a contested election and was reelected and unopposed in 2014 and 2020. Over his 15 plus years on the bench, Judge O’Grady has presided on nearly 14,000 cases to include complicated litigation in both criminal and civil law. He has presided over serious criminal jury trials involving murder, robbery, kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct, domestic violence, child abuse and many other categories of crime.
Judge O’Grady has also presided over numerous areas of civil law involving labor, contracts, property rights, family law, auto negligence and the highly technical civil law cases involving topics such as medical malpractice. In addition, as the circuit court judge he hears cases appealed from the other trial courts or from administrative agencies.
Judge O’Grady has a proven track record of protecting families, protecting your rights and protecting our Michigan.
As a Rule-of-Law Judge in the trial court he will bring that same philosophy to the highest court as a Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
Thank You for Your Vote of Confidence
Thank you so much for your vote of confidence on Saturday at the Michigan GOP Convention - It is an honor to be a candidate on the ballot for Michigan’s Supreme Court this November!
This has been a tremendous journey. As a young man, I made a decision to commit to public service. Whether serving in the Army Reserve, on the road as a Michigan State Trooper, working as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, and currently as a Circuit Court Judge, taking care of people has been my focus. Of course, taking care of people also means providing accountability within our communities and state. With your support, this work will continue on the Michigan Supreme Court.
There are so many people to thank that I could not do it justice by making a list here. You all know who you are: those who endorsed my candidacy, who donated, who invited me to events across the state, and of course, those who voted for me at the Convention. I so appreciate you all. Above all, I am most grateful for my wife Wendy, who has been the rock of our family for years and having her and our wonderful children fully supporting this effort is what made it possible to even enter the race in the first place.
We are now 70 days from Election Day, and about a month from when absentee ballots are available to the public. I ask that you double your efforts. Please let every person you come in contact with know about my candidacy and background. Send our website around via text and email (https://www.judgeogrady4supremecourt.com/) to everyone you know. Explain to people that experience matters, and I have been on the Bench as a Judge for over 15 years.
Let people know that the Courts really matter, and this election is critical to Michigan’s future.
Thank you again, and on to victory in November!
God Bless,
Judge Patrick William “Bill” O’Grady
Candidate for Michigan Supreme Court
Speaker Newt Gingrich Endorses Judge O'Grady
Dr. Sherry O'Donnell Endorses Judge O'Grady
Role as Chief Judge of the Circuit and Probate Courts
As the presiding officer of the court, a chief judge has the authority and the responsibility to:
- Call and preside over meetings of the court
- Appoint committees of the court
- Initiate policies concerning the court's internal operations and its position on external matters affecting the court
- Represent the court in its relations with the Supreme Court, other courts, other agencies of government, the bar, the general public, and the news media, and in ceremonial functions
- Counsel and assist other judges in the performance of their responsibilities
- Cooperate with all investigations conducted by the Judicial Tenure Commission.
Law Enforcement
Judge O'Grady's dedication to justice, enforcing the law and protecting the innocent started as a Michigan State Trooper, patrolling, and investigating crime. He became a Certified Police Officer in the state of Michigan in September 1995, and served for almost 6 years at:
- Jonesville State Police Post
- Northville State Police Post
- Metro North State Police Post
- Ypsilanti State Police Post.
He also served as a Legal Instructor at the Michigan State Police Academy.
Military Experience
- Captain, Company Commander and First Lieutenant, Executive Officer
- U.S. Army Reserve - 333 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
- Honorable Discharge September 2002
- Secret Clearance Level previously held.
- Second Lieutenant, Signal Officer Basic Course
- Fort Gordon Georgia - May 1993 to Nov. 1993
- United States Army Airborne School
- Ft. Benning Georgia - July 1992
Why I am Running for the Michigan Supreme Court
Judges are to be impartial decision makers who take an Oath to uphold the Law.
A Judge is to apply the law to the facts and to provide a reasoned decision based on the law as it applies to the question before the court. The judge’s decision needs to be explained as to how they got to the decision when analyzing both the facts and the law showing that all of the parties’ positions were considered in the analysis. However, the responsibility is to the law and not to a particular party or type of litigant. Outcomes should never focus on which party brings a case or which party defends a case. The judge must put aside any bias that they may have, as all of us do have, as a result of simply being human. Putting aside bias and putting forth a well-reasoned transparent decision is key to establishing trust of the judiciary. The Judiciary is the most transparent branch of government for all of the decisions are in writing or authored into the court record from the bench.
As a judge, I firmly believe that the rule of law must prevail while protecting everyone’s rights in the process. This is practiced daily in the trial court. With 25 years in the field of law and 15 years on the trial court bench I am asking the citizens of Michigan for the opportunity to take this hands-on experience to our highest court – the Michigan Supreme Court.
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Judge Patrick William O'Grady to the Michigan Supreme Court.
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P.O. Box 253
Coldwater, MI 49036