by Larry Royster, Clerk of the MI Supreme Court
As I finish writing this article, the Michigan Supreme Court’s current Chief Justice, Elizabeth (Beth) Clement, is leaving the Court to become the next President of the National Center for State Courts. Having worked with Beth for the past eight years, I am saddened by the fact that the Michigan judiciary is losing such an effective, intellectual, hard-working, and principled jurist. But I am heartened knowing that state courts across the country will benefit from Beth’s leadership as we face the challenges of generative and agentic artificial intelligence, the hyper-partisanship of today’s politics, threats against judges and staff, access to justice, respect for the rule of law, cybersecurity, budgetary constraints, and more.
Beth received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Michigan State University in 1999 and earned her juris doctorate from the Michigan State University College of Law in 2002. She is a diehard Spartan. At the recent investiture of our newest justice, Kimberly Thomas, a former clinical professor at the University of Michigan Law School and long-time season ticket holder of UofM men’s basketball games, Beth engaged in a little good-natured ribbing of Kim by highlighting some player statistics to praise the Spartan men’s basketball team in winning the Big 10 title. Her recitation of statistical information was impressive and was diminished only slightly when one of the speakers (also a UofM Law clinical professor) pointed out that, although MSU won the season title, UofM won the Big 10 tournament.
Beth began her legal career as a solo practitioner, focusing on family law, adoption, probate, estate planning, and criminal law. She left private practice to work as a policy advisor and legal counsel to the state senate’s majority leader from 2006 through 2010. In 2011, she joined the administration of then-Governor Rick Snyder where she served initially as deputy legal counsel and later as cabinet secretary, deputy chief of staff, and finally as chief legal counsel. In that latter position, she played a significant role in dealing with the Flint water crisis. In November 2017, Governor Snyder appointed Beth as the 113th Justice, and only the 11th woman, on the Michigan Supreme Court. Beth ran for and was elected to an eight-year term on the Court, which began on January 1, 2019.
Beth’s professional credentials are clearly impressive, but they don’t come close to painting a full picture of the person. Here is what I have come to know about Beth: She is a person of unwavering integrity. In several politically sensitive cases over the years, she voted her conscience and adhered to the rule of law regardless of the potential fallout. She always took the high road in responding to criticisms directed at her and the Court. If it were me, I’d have bitten my lip bloody trying to hold back, but she took it all in stride and responded positively and professionally. She is respectful, thoughtful, and patient with everyone regardless of their position or title. I’ve been the beneficiary of her grace many times. When things go wrong, she doesn’t look to assign blame but focuses her energy on finding solutions and building consensus. She is charming and has a great sense of humor. Spend any amount of time with Beth, and you’ll walk away feeling like you just made a new and dear friend. I will greatly miss working with her on the Michigan Supreme Court, but I look forward to witnessing the energy, innovation, and leadership that she’ll bring to the National Center for State Courts as its next president.