On November 4, 2008, at the age of 40,
Jim Plakas became the sixth individual to be elected to
the bench at the 35th District Court.
Over 450 supporters, 40 local Judges and countless
elected officials attended his swearing-in at Plymouth’s The Inn at St. John’s on February 4, 2009.
During the 13 years prior to his election,
Judge Plakas had a rare combination of balanced experience
as an attorney which provided him with a smooth transition
to the bench.
Throughout each of those 13 years, Judge Plakas practiced as
a Prosecutor, Assistant City Attorney, Criminal Defense
Attorney and Civil Litigator.
He represented his clients in numerous District and
Circuit Courts throughout the State of Michigan, in Federal
District Courts in Michigan and Arkansas, and in the U.S. 6th
Circuit Court of Appeals [Cincinnati].
He is the fifth individual from his former law firm
to serve as a judge.
Judge Plakas is a life-long resident of Western Wayne
County, and purchased his first home in
downtown Plymouth.
He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from
Central Michigan University,
and his Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit School
of Law.
Judge Plakas has been admitted as
qualified to practice before the Supreme Court of the
United States.
He is also a Member of the American Judges
Association, the American Bar Association and the Hellenic
Bar Association.
Judge Plakas has also been a Licensed Builder with the State
of Michigan since 1995.
In addition to spending time with his
family, Judge Plakas enjoys his time outside of the Court as
a Northville Youth Assistance Mentor, Member of the Plymouth
A.M. Rotary, School of Criminal Justice Advisory Committee
Member of ITT Technical Institute, Plymouth Chamber of
Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee Member, annual
volunteer for the Michigan Parkinson Foundation Walkathon &
5k Run [Northville], and as a Member of AHEPA [American
Hellenic Educational Progressive Association], among other
things.
Judge Plakas resides with his wife, a
Special Education First Grade Teacher, and two children in
Northville Township.
“I fully understand that decisions in the courtroom
impact not only the lives of the participants, but that they
also directly impact our community.
I strongly believe that judicial decisions must be
made in a temperate and measured fashion, and that a judge
must have patience, compassion, respect and courtesy for all
participants in the judicial process.”
