3 Black Judges Appointed to Detroit’s 36th District Court, One of the Nation’s Largest and Busiest

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s appointment of Chastity Youngblood, Poncé Clay, and Dr. Herman Griffin IV to Detroit’s 36th District Court is a moment that deserves to be read not just as a political announcement but as a statement about where the city is, and where it is going. Three highly educated Black professionals ascending to the bench in the same breath is not something to brush past—it is the embodiment of Detroit’s identity colliding with its aspirations for justice. This is a city that has long demanded that those who hold power reflect the people who walk its streets, and in these appointments, that demand has been heard.

Detroiters know the 36th District Court well. It is the people’s court in every sense, one of the busiest in the country, where the city’s daily rhythm is mirrored in legal disputes over housing, traffic tickets, misdemeanor charges, and landlord-tenant conflicts. For many residents, it is the only courtroom they will ever enter, the one place where the justice system feels close enough to touch. When the governor said, “Today, I am proud to appoint Chastity, Poncé, and Herman to the bench. These skilled legal professionals bring years of experience to their new roles, where I am confident they will serve the people of Michigan admirably and uphold the rule of law,” it was more than ceremonial praise. It was a reminder that the law is lived out most tangibly at this level. And who sits on that bench matters for how the law is felt, not just how it is written.

Hon. Chastity Youngblood’s career reveals both rigor and resilience. A Detroit native, she has spent more than fifteen years in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. She has not only handled cases but also helped shape statewide policy as a member of the State Bar of Michigan Justice Policy Commission and Representative Assembly. With a background in international and social relations from Michigan State University’s James Madison College and a law degree from Wayne State University, she has long stood at the intersection of local and global perspectives on justice. Yet it was her words upon appointment that cut to the heart of her judicial philosophy: “I am deeply honored by Governor Whitmer’s appointment to serve on the 36th District Court. I am committed to serving with empathy, fairness, and integrity, and will work diligently to ensure that our community feels seen, heard, and respected in our courts.” Empathy and fairness are qualities often lacking in Detroiters’ experience of the justice system. For residents who have felt silenced or invisible, her pledge to make them feel seen is not a small promise. She steps into the seat vacated by Judge Aliyah Sabree, carrying with her the weight of both continuity and change.

Hon. Poncé Clay’s path to the bench was forged through layers of service that few can match. His twenty years as a United States Naval Officer, followed by leadership in the Navy’s Michigan Recruiting Headquarters, reflect a life steeped in discipline, commitment, and accountability. He brought those same values into civilian service as Division Director of Wayne County Veterans Services and as a mentor in the 36th District’s Veterans Treatment Court, where he directly worked with veterans navigating the justice system. His law firm, Clay Law, PLC, has served Detroiters with an eye toward justice rooted in accessibility. His educational journey—Morehouse College, Troy State University in Japan, University of Detroit Mercy, and its School of Law—reveals the breadth of his preparation. Clay’s words echoed the humility of a man who understands the weight of his new role: “I am profoundly grateful to Governor Whitmer for the enormous privilege to serve on the 36th District Court, and I do not take this responsibility lightly. My life’s work has been rooted in service—service to my country, my profession, and most importantly, to the people of Detroit. This appointment is not about me, but about continuing the mission of ensuring access to justice for all who appear before the Court. I pledge to serve with integrity, humility, and compassion.” In a city where so many veterans return home carrying visible and invisible scars, his presence on the bench matters. He fills the vacancy left by Judge Donald Coleman, but he brings with him a mission much larger than the title.

Hon. Dr. Herman Griffin IV brings a rare duality—equal parts attorney and minister. His legal work as deputy director at the Regional Managed Assigned Counsel Office and as owner of Griffin Law PLLC has been grounded in some of the most vulnerable corners of Detroit’s legal system. He has defended clients in mental health specialty courts and taught monthly classes on preventing human trafficking at the Southwest Detroit Community Justice Center. His ministry work, through the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and the Washtenaw Ministerial Alliance, positions him as a trusted voice in Detroit’s faith community. Dr. Griffin’s academic path—spanning English at the University of Michigan, divinity at Howard University, a doctorate from Boston University, and a law degree from Cooley Law School—represents a fusion of intellectual training and spiritual calling. His words upon appointment were brief but powerful: “I am humbled to be appointed to the bench and ready to serve Detroit.” For those who have long argued that justice must be about more than statutes, his grounding in both law and ministry is not incidental—it is essential. He takes the seat left open by the passing of Judge Donna Robinson Millhouse, carrying forward a legacy of service in one of the court’s most consequential roles.

The symbolism of three Black judges taking their place on the same court cannot be ignored. Detroit, a city that is over 77% Black, has often seen its legal institutions fail to reflect its demographics. Courtrooms filled with Black defendants and litigants have not always been balanced by judges who understood their lived realities. This moment does not erase systemic inequities, but it does mark progress. It represents a generation of Black professionals stepping into leadership within the very institutions that once marginalized their communities.

The 36th District Court itself has long been a flashpoint in Detroit’s civic life. During the city’s financial crisis, when services were gutted and neighborhoods destabilized, the court became the battleground for housing insecurity. Landlord-tenant disputes soared, and the court was often criticized for moving cases through at a pace that left residents feeling unheard. The appointment of judges who pledge empathy, fairness, and humility could mark a shift in how these cases are handled. For many Detroiters, the test will be whether their words translate into decisions that reflect the lived realities of those struggling with poverty, displacement, or systemic bias.

There is also a historical through-line to consider. Detroit has produced trailblazing Black judges for generations, from Damon J. Keith, who became a civil rights giant on the U.S. Court of Appeals, to the local jurists who carried the mantle through decades of change in the city. These new appointments stand in that lineage, not as outliers but as evidence that the struggle for representation has borne fruit. At the same time, they enter their roles at a moment when institutional trust is fragile. Nationally, the courts are seen as more partisan than ever. Locally, residents have called for a system that prioritizes fairness over expedience.

The reality is that all three judges will face the same challenge: translating lofty pledges into day-to-day courtroom decisions that build trust. They will preside over cases where livelihoods hang in the balance, where small fines can spiral into cycles of debt, and where the perception of fairness can mean the difference between community trust and disillusionment. And because these are appointments to partial terms that expire in January 2027, they will soon face Detroit’s voters. That democratic test will measure not just their performance but whether they truly embody the empathy and fairness they promised.

Still, the significance of this moment should not be understated. Detroit’s 36th District Court is now home to three new judges who are not just qualified but deeply tied to the city’s community fabric. Youngblood brings prosecutorial expertise and a pledge of empathy. Clay carries a life of military and civic service rooted in integrity and compassion. Griffin merges law and ministry, reflecting a holistic understanding of justice. Together, they represent a turning of the page in Detroit’s judicial story, one where the bench begins to mirror the people it serves more fully than ever before.

Detroit has always been a city where representation matters because it is tied directly to survival and dignity. These appointments signal progress, but also responsibility. The community will be watching—not just to see who they are, but to witness what justice looks like when it wears a face that feels familiar.