The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan is pleased to announce the appointment of Sally Berens as its newest Magistrate Judge. Ms. Berens will fill the position opened by the retirement of Magistrate Judge Ellen S. Carmody after almost two decades of distinguished service. The appointment is effective November 2, 2019.
Ms. Berens grew up on a farm in Allegan County and is an alumna of Hamilton High School. She graduated from Harvard in 1998, earning her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in linguistics, a master’s degree in comparative literature, and All-American honors in sailing.
Ms. Berens received her law degree with honors from the University of Chicago Law School in 2001. She began her legal career clerking for the Honorable Andrew J. Kleinfeld of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Fairbanks, Alaska. She then joined the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, in Palo Alto, California, where she practiced as a civil litigator for 10 years, focusing on securities, ERISA, intellectual property, and other complex commercial cases. In 2012, Ms. Berens accepted a position as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Michigan, where she continues to serve as a federal prosecutor. She has handled all manner of federal criminal cases, from violent crime to financial fraud, at both the trial and appellate levels.
Ms. Berens has a strong record of service to the profession. In law school, she served as Articles Editor for the Chicago Legal Forum, beginning a pattern of scholarly contribution she maintained throughout her career. During her years of private practice, she contributed hundreds of hours of pro bono service, earning awards for her dedicated service.
In reflecting on the upcoming transition, the Chief Judge of the District, Robert J. Jonker, commented: “Judge Carmody has served the District with distinction for almost twenty years. She leaves big shoes to fill, and we will miss her. But Sally Berens will be a worthy successor. She brings a history of academic excellence and a diverse practice experience that gives her immediate credibility on both the civil and criminal sides of the docket. We look forward to welcoming her to our bench.”
A Merit Selection Panel, chaired by attorney Andrea Bernard of Grand Rapids, reviewed more than fifty applications for the position, and ultimately selected five finalists, each of whom possessed exemplary personal qualities, and a record of professional excellence. From this group of outstanding finalists, the District Judges unanimously selected Ms. Berens to be the next Magistrate Judge for the District.