Judge Jennifer Coleman Hesson was elected to serve on the 33rd District Court bench in November, 2010, taking office on January 1, 2011. One year later, she was appointed Chief Judge Pro Tem and received the appointment, from the Supreme Court, to serve as Chief Judge of the 33rd District Court, beginning January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2017 and again beginning January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023. Before taking the bench, she was a courtroom attorney for nearly 15 years. She developed her professional perspective by strategizing and presenting thousands of criminal and civil cases in more than 50 of Michigan’s district, municipal, circuit, probate and appellate courts; and in the federal U.S. District Courts. She further honed her skills in conflict resolution as an arbitrator of circuit court civil law cases. She also served as house counsel at the 33rd District Court.
Judge Jennifer Coleman Hesson is a life-long resident of the district. She graduated from Oscar A. Carlson High School-Gibraltar. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and her law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is a former trustee of the Gibraltar School District Board of Education and was inducted into the inaugural class of the Carlson Hall of Fame, for her long time commitment and dedication to the community.
Judge Coleman Hesson is past president of the Wayne County District Judges’ Association. She is an active member of the Michigan District Judges Association, State Bar of Michigan, Downriver Bar Association, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Michigan Association for Justice, Soroptimist International, UofM Alumni Association, Rockwood Historical Society, and St. Mary Parish in Rockwood.
Judge Jennifer Coleman Hesson serves as a state appointed judicial mentor to newly elected judges, is presiding judge of the 33rd District Sobriety Court, is a member of the SUDDS (Stop Underage Drinking/Drugs Downriver) Coalition, regularly conducts court sessions in the local schools, for the “Court to School” program, coaches the state ranked Trenton High School Mock Trial Team, and facilitates and presents the Domestic Violence – “Healthy Relationships – Expect Respect” program in area high schools.
Judge Jennifer Coleman Hesson is married and has four children.