Governor Makes Judicial Appointment

Liz Gullett

Mar 24, 2023

Clay West has been appointed to the bench of the 17^th Circuit Court in Kent County. The appointment was made to fill a partial term following the election of Judge Kathleen Feeney to the 3^rd District Court of Appeals. His term commences on April 17, 2023, and expires on January 1, 2025. If he wishes to serve the remainder of Judge Feeney’s term, expiring January 1, 2027, he would be required to run for reelection in November 2024.

Mr. West currently works as an Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. Additionally, he’s a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, now serving as a Military Judge with the U.S. Army Trial Judiciary, 4^th Judicial Circuit. Previously, Mr. West clerked for judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the California Supreme Court and worked as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard College, a Master of Philosophy from Cambridge University, and Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

Judicial appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

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