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.
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 2018-2019. He has been reappointed for the years 2020 – 2021.
Judge McNally spent in excess of one year planning the implementation of the 33rd District Sobriety Court. The program began in September, 2008, and Judge McNally has served as the Sobriety Court Presiding Judge every year since it’s inception through the present (2020), with the exception of 2010. Sobriety Court involves extremely intense probation for those with serious substance abuse problems. The program has graduated 163 individuals, and is primarily funded with grant money acquired by the Court.
Judge McNally initiated the “Court to School” Program, where Judges conduct actual Court proceedings in area schools. 33rd District Court Judges have presided over approximately 300 cases in this program in the past 20 years.
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 Court Observation Program where offenders are sentenced to observe actual court proceedings; and a program for domestic violence offenders involving a “special” prosecutor.
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 Trenton High School Mock Trial Team during the years 1997-2001, and 2011 -2020.
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 life-long 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 is married and has three children.