Experienced Court Leader Chosen to be Regional Administrator
MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT, LANSING, MI, September 21, 2023 –
The Michigan Supreme Court announced today that attorney Zenell B. Brown has been named Region 1 Administrator for the State Court Administrative Office. In this role, Brown will serve as liaison to Wayne County’s 26 trial courts, including the 3rd Circuit, Wayne Probate, and 36th District – all of the state’s largest. Brown previously served for more than 25 years in various roles at the 3rd Circuit, culminating in nearly a decade as Executive Court Administrator. She also has an extensive record of public service, including her recent election as president of the Detroit Bar Association.
“Zenell Brown has unmatched experience and a record of leadership in every possible aspect of court operations and community engagement,” said State Court Administrator Tom Boyd. “She is respected nationwide for her commitment to diversity, expertise in court management, and ability to bring stakeholders together to solve problems.”
“I am excited to return to the judiciary in the role of Region 1 Administrator,” said Brown. “I look forward to working with the chief judges and court personnel in the furtherance of justice that is accessible and trusted by all.”
Brown’s primary responsibilities as Region 1 Administrator will include monitoring and providing management assistance to all trial courts within the region, directing the judicial assignment program, mediating funding and policy disputes, investigating complaints, and acting as a resource for judges and court staff. Brown will also develop and implement plans and goals for the Region 1 Office and directs its personnel and operational activities.
As the top administrator for the 3rd Circuit Court, Brown has negotiated funding agreements, spearheaded technological advancements, championed racial and social justice, and established a leadership development infrastructure, among other achievements. She also enhanced community outreach initiatives such as Law Day, child support services, and jury services.
Brown received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Detroit Mercy and a Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a Judicial Administration Certificate from Michigan State University. She began her career at the 3rd Circuit in 1997 as special assistant prosecutor and Friend of the Court attorney.
In addition to steadily increasing leadership responsibility at the 3rd Judicial Circuit, Zenell Brown has 17 years of mediation experience, including creation of a facilitative family mediation program. She also has two decades of experience collaborating with federal, state, and local government agencies, bar associations, and human service organizations on court administration, family law and child support, dispute resolution, and diversity and inclusion.
The State Court Administrative Office has six regional offices located in Detroit, Lansing, Mt. Pleasant, and Gaylord. Led by a regional administrator, each office provides direct management assistance to trial court chief judges and staff in the administration of judicial business. The Regional Offices work with the central office at the Hall of Justice to implement Supreme Court judicial administration policy, monitor workload and caseflow, and to forge productive working relationships with local judicial system stakeholders.
Zenell Brown replaces former Judge Paul Paruk, who recently retired as Region 1 Administrator.