Judge Michael K. McNally was elected to the 33rd District Court bench in 1994, and assumed his duties in January, 1995. He was re-elected in 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. He is the longest-serving Judge in the history of the Court, which began its operation in 1969.
Judge McNally was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve as Chief Judge of the Court from 1998-2001, 2006-2009, 2012-2013, and 2018-2021. He was recently reappointed to serve as Chief Judge for the years 2024 – 2025.
Judge McNally spent in excess of one (1) year planning the implementation of the 33rd District Sobriety Court. The program began in September 2008, and Judge McNally served as the Sobriety Court Presiding Judge every year from its inception through 2020, with the exception of 2010. He again became a Sobriety Court Judge in October, 2023. Sobriety Court involves extremely intense probation for those with serious substance abuse problems. The program has graduated 227 individuals, and is primarily funded with grant money acquired by the Court.
In 1998, Judge McNally initiated the “Court to School” Program, where Judges conduct actual Court proceedings in schools located within the 7 communities which comprise the Court. 33rd District Court Judges have presided over approximately 400 court sessions in area schools since the program began.
Additionally, Judge McNally has implemented several other programs while Chief Judge, including a Collections Program which has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue; a program for domestic violence offenders involving a “special prosecutor” ; and has been instrumental in sustaining the Court’s “Law Day” Program and Court Work Program, both of which were initiated in the 1970’s by his late father, the Honorable Gerald A. McNally, who served as the first Judge of the District Court between 1969 – 1986.
Judge McNally has mentored more than 30 interns, and established a “volunteer” program for senior citizens involving them in the efficient operation of the Court. He has coached the highly-successful Trenton High School Mock Trial Team during the years 1997-2001, and 2011 – present.
Judge McNally is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Wayne County District Judges Association (President, 2002-2003), the Downriver Bar Association (President, 1991-1992), and a variety of charitable and civic organizations. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Outstanding Young Man of Trenton (1996), the Knights of Columbus Heart of Gold Award (1998), the Downriver Irish American Club President’s Award (2002), and the Paul Harris and Paul Harris +1 Award from Trenton Rotary (2019). He was also inducted into the Trenton Educational Wall of Fame (2018).
Judge McNally is a lifelong resident of the area. He graduated from Trenton High School, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Central Michigan University. He graduated Cum Laude from the Detroit College of Law, earning a Juris Doctor.
Judge McNally has been married to his wonderful wife for 40 years, has three successful adult children, and three amazing grandchildren.