Charles Levin
Encyclopedia
Charles Leonard Levin was a Michigan
jurist. He served as a Michigan Court of Appeals
judge from 1966 to 1972 and as a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
from 1973 to 1996. He attended the University of Michigan
where he received his B.A.
in 1946 and his LL.B.
in 1947 from the University of Michigan Law School.
When he decided to run for the Michigan Supreme Court, Levin did not feel comfortable running as either a Democratic or Republican nominee. He then formed his own party and nominated himself. He was elected to two additional terms as an independent candidate. During his tenure on the bench, he gained the respect of many colleagues prompting U.S. District Court
Judge Avern Cohn
to note on his retirement, "Justice Levin has displayed scholarship, pragmatism, insight, honesty, courage, and humanity."
Levin's father, Theodore Levin
, was a federal district court judge. His brother, Joseph Levin, ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
in 1974. His cousin Carl Levin
is a U.S. Senator
for Michigan. His cousin Sander Levin is a U.S. Representative in Michigan's 12th District.
Levin was married to a former law clerk, Helene White
, a Michigan Court of Appeals judge since 1992. White was nominated by President Bill Clinton
to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
at the end of his first term. Her nomination was blocked by Michigan's then-U.S. Senator, Spencer Abraham
for the entirety of Clinton's second term. In an unexpected move, White was later re-nominated to the Sixth Circuit by President George W. Bush
on April 15, 2008. The couple divorced in November 2006.
Charles Levin and Helene White have two children, Benjamin Joseph White Levin (b. 1993) and Francesca Rhoda White Levin (b. 1996). Levin resides in Detroit.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
jurist. He served as a Michigan Court of Appeals
Michigan Court of Appeals
The Michigan Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court of the state of Michigan. It was created by the Michigan Constitution of 1963, and commenced operations in 1965...
judge from 1966 to 1972 and as a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
from 1973 to 1996. He attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
where he received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1946 and his LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1947 from the University of Michigan Law School.
When he decided to run for the Michigan Supreme Court, Levin did not feel comfortable running as either a Democratic or Republican nominee. He then formed his own party and nominated himself. He was elected to two additional terms as an independent candidate. During his tenure on the bench, he gained the respect of many colleagues prompting U.S. District Court
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over of the eastern portion of the state of Michigan. The Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron...
Judge Avern Cohn
Avern Cohn
Avern Cohn is a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He was appointed by President Jimmy Carter effective October 9, 1979....
to note on his retirement, "Justice Levin has displayed scholarship, pragmatism, insight, honesty, courage, and humanity."
Levin's father, Theodore Levin
Theodore Levin
Theodore Levin was a was a prominent immigration lawyer and United States federal judge who served on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan from 1946 until his death in 1970....
, was a federal district court judge. His brother, Joseph Levin, ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1974. His cousin Carl Levin
Carl Levin
Carl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
is a U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
for Michigan. His cousin Sander Levin is a U.S. Representative in Michigan's 12th District.
Levin was married to a former law clerk, Helene White
Helene White
Helene N. White is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Previously, she was a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals.- Background :...
, a Michigan Court of Appeals judge since 1992. White was nominated by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Kentucky* Western District of Kentucky...
at the end of his first term. Her nomination was blocked by Michigan's then-U.S. Senator, Spencer Abraham
Spencer Abraham
Edmund Spencer Abraham is a former United States Senator from Michigan. He served as the tenth United States Secretary of Energy, serving under President George W. Bush. Abraham is one of the founders of the Federalist Society....
for the entirety of Clinton's second term. In an unexpected move, White was later re-nominated to the Sixth Circuit by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on April 15, 2008. The couple divorced in November 2006.
Charles Levin and Helene White have two children, Benjamin Joseph White Levin (b. 1993) and Francesca Rhoda White Levin (b. 1996). Levin resides in Detroit.