Hon. Muriel D. Hughes (Ret.)

Twenty years on the Wayne County Circuit Court bench across its Business Court, Civil and Family Divisions, with more than 8,000 civil cases and 750 business court matters, following 22 years in private practice.

Judge Hughes joined MI-JADR as a neutral on October 1, 2026, after 20 years on the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, the eighth-largest circuit court in the nation. The Michigan Supreme Court recently recognized her for "displaying exceptional legal scholarship, fairness, patience, integrity and unwavering commitment to the fair administration of justice." On the bench she earned a reputation for taking the time to help parties settle their disputes before the expense and time of trial. At MI-JADR she handles personal injury and no-fault, business and commercial, real estate, family and employment matters.

Appointed to the Circuit Court by the Governor in 2006 and elected in 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2022, she presided over family law cases for seven years before moving to the Civil Division, where she handled more than 8,000 general civil cases involving no-fault, auto negligence, personal injury, medical and legal malpractice, contracts, employment and real estate. The Michigan Supreme Court appointed her to the Business Court in 2019, where she presided over some 750 cases ranging from small businesses to large companies in the mortgage, automotive and marijuana industries. She was rated "Outstanding" by the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Judicial Committee.

Before the bench she practiced for 22 years as an officer and shareholder of Hughes & Hughes, P.C., concentrating on litigation, business law, real estate, probate and alternative case resolution, and served as Wayne County Public Administrator by appointment of the Attorney General. She mediated for the Mediation Tribunal Association of the Third Circuit and for the Wayne County Probate Court, and previously held a Michigan real estate broker's license, giving her practical fluency in property and transactional issues.

Judge Hughes served as an elected Board Member of the Michigan Judges Association and on its Civil/Business Committee, and has presented for the Michigan Judicial Institute, ICLE, the Business Law Section and bar associations on civil and business litigation. She is a team leader in the Inn of Court program mentoring young attorneys, a Board Member of the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers, and past President of the Wayne County Probate Bar Association. Her honors include the Spirit of Detroit Award (2006), Saint Mary's College's Alumna Achievement Award (2020), the ISIAL Charles R. Rutherford Jr. Award (2024) and the Junior League of Detroit's Volunteer Extraordinaire Award.

Credentials

• Judge, 3rd Judicial Circuit of Michigan (2006–2026)
• Business Court Judge, appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court (2019–2026)
• Civil Division (2014–2026); Family Division (2006–2014)
• Rated "Outstanding" by the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
• Mediator, Mediation Tribunal Association and Wayne County Probate Court
• Board Member, Michigan Judges Association; Civil/Business Committee

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Education

• JD, University of Detroit School of Law
• BA Business Administration and Philosophy, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame