Pat Conlin - Ann Arbor

Patrick J. (Pat) Conlin Jr. is an attorney who was elected as a 22nd Circuit Court judge on Nov. 4, 2014.

Pat Conlin. (Photo from Conlin's Twitter profile)

In the Aug. 5, 2014 primary, Conlin competed in a three-way nonpartisan race, along with Veronique Liem and Michael Woodyard, for a seat on the 22nd Circuit Court. The seat was previously held by judge Donald Shelton, who turned 70 in June of 2014. According to Michigan state law, only a person under the age of 70 can be appointed or run for the position of judge. The circuit court tries felonies and criminal matters, family law, and civil disputes where claims are greater than $25,000. However, the docket for this particular seat on the circuit court is heavily weighted toward family cases.

The top two vote-getters, Liem and Conlin, advanced to the Nov. 4 general election. Countywide, Conlin received 16,043 votes (44.85%) and Liem garnered 14,779 votes (41.32%). Coming in third was Woodyard with 4,856 votes (13.58%). Overall, 44,823 ballots were cast throughout Washtenaw County in this race, which translated to a 16.28% turnout.

His family has roots in the legal profession. His grandfather, John Conlin, served as first a probate judge, and then a circuit judge. John Conlin's son, Patrick J. Conlin (Pat Conlin's father), was a district judge and then elected to a newly created circuit judge seat. But soon after the election, John Conlin died and Patrick was appointed to his father's seat as a district judge. John Conlin's brother, Henry, was a circuit judge. John Conlin's youngest son is 14A District Court Judge Richard Conlin.

Conlin has served on several community boards, including for Chelsea Community Hospital and Grace Clinic of Chelsea. He is a past president of the Washtenew County Bar Association and the Rotary Club of Chelsea.

He is married to Elaine Economou, who owns an Ann Arbor fitness and wellness studio called Move. They have three sons: Patrick, John and Thomas. The family lives in Lima Township and attends Chelsea’s St. Mary Catholic Church.

Timeline: Pat Conlin

Nov. 4, 2014: Defeats Veronique Liem in the 22nd circuit court judicial race. Based on results posted on the Washtenaw County elections website, Liem garnered 41,932 votes (47.18%) in the countywide election, compared to Conlin's 46,391 votes (52.2%). Conlin had been endorsed by the judge who previously held that seat, Donald Shelton.

Aug. 5, 2014: Advances to the November general election, along with Veronique Liem. Countywide, Conlin received 16,043 votes (44.85%) and Liem garnered 14,779 votes (41.32%). Coming in third was Michael Woodyard with 4,856 votes (13.58%). Overall, 44,823 ballots were cast throughout Washtenaw County in this race, which translated to a 16.28% turnout.

2012: Begins working with his father as counsel to the newly formed Conlin Legal Group in Ann Arbor, where he has exclusively handled family law matters and mediation.

2002: Becomes a partner at Keusch and Flintoft. He handles civil and criminal litigation, transactional work and domestic matters.

1998: Joins the law firm of Keusch and Flintoft, a general practice firm in Chelsea.

1997: Earns a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School. While in law school, he clerked for the Monroe County Circuit Court and at Legal Services of Southeastern Michigan.

1987-?? Teaches high school in New York City.

1987: Graduates from the University of Notre Dame, where he earned his degree in English literature.

DATE? Graduates from Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor.

1964: Born to Anneward Ashley Conlin and Patrick J. Conlin, the youngest elected judge in Washtenaw County, who went on to serve as both District and Circuit Court judge. His older sister is Kelli Conlin.