Justice Kurtis T. Wilder (Ret.)

Bio

Former Justice Kurtis T. Wilder is a Shareholder at the Detroit-headquartered law firm, Butzel Long. He joined Butzel Long after nearly 27 years as a Trial Judge, Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals, and Michigan Supreme Court Justice. He is one of only five jurists in Michigan history to have served on all three levels of Michigan’s Courts.

Justice Wilder concentrates his practice in appeals, litigation, and mediation and facilitations. He has received the Michigan State Court Administrator’s Office mediation training, and successfully completed Harvard Business School’s Program on Negotiation. As a former trial and appellate jurist, Justice Wilder brings unique perspectives on oral advocacy at the trial and appellate level, trial and appeals preparation, and alternative dispute resolution.

Justice Wilder plays an active role in a number of nonprofit organizations, most notably as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Interlochen Center for the Arts, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Executive Committee member of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and Director of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan. Justice Wilder also serves as an Elder and Chancel Choir member at First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth.

Justice Wilder graduated from the University of Michigan with an A.B. degree in Political Science in 1981, and from the University of Michigan Law School with a Juris Doctor degree in 1984.