Judge Gene Schnelz is a retired Oakland County Circuit Judge with 28 years of service as a Circuit Judge. He was a District Court Judge for 4 years before becoming a Circuit Judge and also served as Chief Judge. He is a graduate of Alma College, Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law and the National Judicial College.
Prior to his judgeship, Judge Schnelz was a municipal attorney for the municipalities of Walled Lake, Wixom, Wolverine Lake, Milford, Milford Township, and Walled Lake School District. He is a recipient of the State Bar’s two highest awards for service to public and profession, and numerous other Awards over his long and distinguished legal career, both as an attorney and a judge.
Judge Schnelz was also selected as one of Michigan’s Most Respected Judges by a state-wide poll.
After retiring from the bench, Judge Schnelz concentrated his practice on mediations and arbitrations, in complex legal matters.
Areas Of Practice
- Mediations
- Arbitrations
Bar Admissions
- Michigan, 1958
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1958
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1958
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1958
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1964
Education
- Detroit College of Law, Detroit, Michigan
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - 00/1957
- Honors: Participated in National Moot Court Finals, 1956
- Alma College, Alma, Michigan
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 00/1954
- Honors: cum laude
- Major: English
- Major: History
- Major: Speech
Representative Cases
- Decker v. Saini, 1991 WL 277590, 1991, Mich.Cir.Ct., 1992016550
- Amedure v. Schmitz, 95-194536 NZ, 1995, Circuit Court
Classes/Seminars
- Instructor, National Judicial College, Michigan Judicial College, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1974
Honors and Awards
- Highest Michigan State Bar Award
- Oakland County Bar Association, Frances R. Avadenka Memorial Award for Public Service
- Women’s Bar Association Award for Outstanding Contributions
- Jewish Association for Residential Care Civil Rights Award
- Join Resolution of Michigan Legislature for Public Service
- Jewish Association for Special Children Civil Rights Award
- NAACP Presidential Award for Judicial Service
- Alma College Distinguished Alumni Award
- Luther Attorneys in Witness First Award for Positive Leadership in the Church and Community
- Sunshine Award from Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County
- State of Israel Humanitarian Award
- Oakland County Bar Distinguished Public Service Award
- One of Michigan's Most Respected Judges, Michigan Lawyers Weekly Poll
Professional Associations and Memberships
- State Bar of Michigan, Secretary, 1989 to 1990
- Oakland County Bar Association, President, 1973
- State Bar of Michigan, Secretary, 1989 to 1990
- Oakland County Bar Association, President, 1973
Past Employment Positions
- Oakland County, Circuit Judge (Retired)
- Novi, District Court Judge
- Novi, Chief Judge
- Walled Lake, Attorney
- Wixom, Attorney
- Wolverine Lake, Attorney
- Milford, Attorney
- Milford Township, Attorney
- Walled Lake School District, Attorney
Fraternities/Sororities
- Tau Kappa Epsilon