Kowalkowski formally sworn in as judge for 44th District Court

BERKLEY/ROYAL OAK — Sept. 27 was a surreal day for Andrew Kowalkowski, as he formally was sworn in as a judge for the 44th District Court.

Kowalkowski’s swearing in came six months after he was appointed to the bench by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer following the death of Judge Jamie Wittenberg last year.

While he was sworn in during a private ceremony when he was appointed, Kowalkowski said the Sept. 27 ceremony brought some closure to the process and allowed him to celebrate with the community, colleagues, family and friends.

“It was humbling and the fact that they all took the time to be there and support me in that moment was really something special that I’ll truly never forget.”

Kowalkowski sat and took in the ceremony alongside his wife, Jennifer, and children  Evan and Adelyn. Jennifer Kowalkowski spoke during the investiture.

“May your journey in the district court be marked by justice, compassion and integrity. We are excited for this journey as a family and our commitment to the communities of Berkley and Royal Oak,” she said.

Among the many local judges there to officially welcome Kowalkowski to his new role was his fellow judge in the 44th District Court, Derek Meinecke.

Meinecke said at the ceremony he didn’t know much about Kowalkowski when he was appointed, but upon meeting him, he was struck by his new co-worker’s genuine appreciation for the opportunity to serve.

Since Kowalkowski’s appointment, Meinecke said they’ve been able to spend a lot of time together, which has helped them develop trust in one another and a strong, professional bond and personal friendship.

“As I’ve learned in my time on the bench, a positive, productive working relationship between the judges sets the tone for the whole building. A unified, positive vision for the judges forged not from one bulldozing the other, but one created with the input, intellect and experience of both judges, agreed upon by both judges, supported by both judges, that type of collaboration and cooperation can be the spark for a dynamic (partnership).”

When he first was appointed in March, Kowalkowski mentioned how he wanted to help build up the sobriety and teen court programs started by Wittenberg.

Kowalkowski said work has been going on over the last several months to invigorate the sobriety court program, which hadn’t been as filled as it had been in the past, but the court has been able to add approximately 15-20 people to almost get to a full court.

“I feel like that has been a huge accomplishment,” he said. “The teen court is something that was really well received and well run by Judge Wittenberg in Berkley, and he had had ideas to have expanded to Royal Oak before he passed. And that was something that I thought was a great idea. And I’m proud to say that it’s all sped up and as soon as there is a case that comes out of Royal Oak or Berkley for that teen diversion program, we’ll be ready to go.”

“I’ve worked with the Oakland County prosecutors to get that in place,” he continued. “It’s a diversion program to help teens stay out of the court system and also an opportunity to kind of learn what it means to be charged and take part in that whole kind of process as students. So I can’t wait for that first chance to work on that, and it’s just a matter of time at this point. It’s all set up and ready to go. So I feel good about that as well.”

Before becoming a judge, Kowalkowski worked as a defense attorney and in the Michigan Department of State as an administrative law examiner.

Kowalkowski said his swearing in was the culmination of his 17 years working in law.

“I can’t ask for a better preparation,” he said. “I feel like those were all training for this role I have now, and it does feel like the culmination of a lot of work and time and those years preparing for this moment. And now to have this position is really, I just, I’m so thankful for the experience I have to rely on, and I feel like it’s really started me off in a way that I can be effective and a good judge right from the start.”