Served from 2021 to present
Justice Elizabeth M. Welch joined the Michigan Supreme Court on January 1, 2021. She currently serves as the Justice Liaison on data gathering and transparency in the civil, criminal, and juvenile justice systems, as well as the Liaison to the Michigan Judicial Institute. She co-chairs the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Commission, co-chairs the Justice for All Commission’s (JFA) Technology and Data Sharing Work Group, and serves on the JFA Communications Work Group and JFA Resource Work Group.
Justice Welch received her law degree from Ohio State University (where she served as Research Editor of the Law Journal) and her undergraduate degree from Penn State University. After law school, she practiced labor/employment law at large law firms located in Louisville, KY and Grand Rapids, MI prior to starting her own law practice. She also published many articles in academic and industry publications, including serving as a Chapter Editor for The Developing Labor Law treatise.
During her 25-year career, she counseled nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individuals on labor/employment law matters and represented her clients in arbitrations, administrative agency matters, and litigation. Justice Welch also handled pro bono abuse/neglect matters, worked as counsel to a criminal defense law practice, and counseled nonprofit organizations on board governance. Justice Welch is a trained mediator and volunteered for many years with the West Michigan Dispute Resolution Center.
Justice Welch has been a member of numerous professional and nonprofit boards, including serving as a Trustee for the Grand Rapids Bar Association and a board member for the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan – Western Region (where she also served as President). Justice Welch is currently Vice President of the Steelcase Foundation and a Trustee of the Grand Valley University Foundation.
Prior to her joining the Supreme Court, Justice Welch served as Vice President and a Trustee on the East Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education. She worked with leaders across the state to engage and train community members to be advocates for local public schools and regularly worked with legislators on public school policy. She also served on the School Finance Research Collaborative (a statewide coalition of education stakeholders who commissioned a study to determine the true cost of educating a child in Michigan). Justice Welch also served on the Grand Rapids Mayor’s Task Force in 2013 and 2016, which was charged with examining and improving local elections.
Justice Welch has received several awards in recognition for her public school and other community work. She and her husband Brian Schwartz live in Grand Rapids and have four adult children.