Senator Whitmer offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 204.

A resolution of tribute for the Honorable Michael F. Cavanagh.

            Whereas, The members of this legislative body are honored to commend and thank Justice Michael F. Cavanagh for his dedicated service to the people of the state of Michigan; and

            Whereas, Michael Cavanagh was born on October 21, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of a factory worker and a teacher who moved to Detroit from Canada.  He graduated from the University of Detroit High School in 1958 and went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Detroit in 1962.  In 1966, he received his law degree from the University of Detroit Law School; and

            Whereas, After graduating from law school, Michael Cavanagh was hired as an assistant city attorney for the city of Lansing and thereafter was appointed as Lansing City Attorney, serving until 1969.  In 1972, he was elected judge of the 54-A District Court and served from 1973 to 1975.  Justice Cavanagh was then elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals, where he served from 1975 to 1982.  At that time, he was the youngest person ever elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals; and

            Whereas, Justice Cavanagh was first elected to the Michigan Supreme Court in 1982.  He was re-elected in 1990, 1998, and 2006.  He served as Chief Justice from 1991 to 1995; and

            Whereas, Throughout his professional career, Justice Cavanagh has also been a member of various legal and community organizations.  He is a member of a number of bar associations and judicial committees and has served on the board of directors for a number of organizations, including Cooley Law School, the American Heart Association, and the Lansing YMCA; and

            Whereas, Justice Cavanagh’s honorable career includes over four decades of judicial decisions.  His thoughtfulness and thorough understanding of the impact the law has in our society earned him widespread respect across our state and nation; and

            Whereas, Justice Cavanagh has mentored over 50 law clerks throughout his judicial career, and he has left an indelible and positive imprint on each clerk as they have embarked on their legal careers throughout the nation; and

Whereas, Beyond the legacy of a brilliant judicial career, Justice Cavanagh’s greatest legacy will be the influence that he has had on so many--his children and grandchildren; the attorneys who argued their cases in front of him; the judges who worked with him; the clerks who worked for him; the friends and colleagues who raised a glass and laughed with him; and the people whose lives are better because he took the time to hear their cases; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we extend our appreciation and thanks to the Honorable Michael F. Cavanagh as he completes his service with the Michigan Supreme Court; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Justice Cavanagh as evidence of our gratitude and best wishes for his future endeavors.