Judges
Judge Frank J. DeLuca
Judge DeLuca graduated from Western Michigan University and the Detroit College of Law where he was elected president of his graduating class. Judge DeLuca served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ingham County from 1971 through 1975. He engaged in the private practice of law for more than 20 years prior to his election to the bench in November of 2000. Judge DeLuca was appointed a member of the Ingham County/City of Lansing Community Corrections Advisory Board in 1995 and has served in several different capacities including two terms as chairperson. He is a member of the Ingham County Bar Association and was selected as a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Judge DeLuca was appointed Chief Judge of the 54-A District Court by the Michigan Supreme Court effective January 1, 2006.
Judge Louise Alderson
Judge Alderson is a native of Lansing, Michigan. She is a graduate of Lansing Eastern High School ('76), holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University ('80) and a J.D. from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School ('86). From 1986 to 1988, she worked for the Michigan Senate and also as legal/legislative counsel to State Senator Rudy J. Nichols. She served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Clinton County from 1989 to 1992, working in the District, Circuit and Probate Courts. In 1992, she joined the Michigan House as legal counsel to the House Judiciary Committee. She accepted an appointment as the Federal Legislative Liaison for the Michigan Department of Transportation in 1995. In September of 1996, Louise joined the staff of the Governor's Office of Legislative Affairs as Associate Director and assumed the duties of Director in May of 1997. In 2001, Judge Alderson was appointed to the 54A District Court; she was successful in her retention election in 2002, and re-elected to the bench in 2004. As part of her duties, Judge Alderson presides over the specialized Sobriety Court for the 54A District Court.
Judge Alderson is an active board member of EVE, Inc, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Michigan District Judges Association, Michigan Judicial Council and the Girl Scouts of Michigan Capitol Council. She is a member of the Zonta Club of Lansing and the Riverside Neighborhood Association.
Judge Patrick F. Cherry
Judge Cherry is a Lansing native who earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1966, and his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University in 1969. He served in the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office as Chief Trial Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division before he was appointed to the bench in 1975. Judge Cherry served as Chief Judge of the 54-A District Court from 1999 to 2006.
Judge Charles F. Filice
Judge Filice has been a district court judge since 1971. He is a native of Lansing, Michigan. He attended Lansing Community College, Western Michigan University (BBA), Wayne State University Law School (JD). He is the former Chief Trial Attorney for the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office, and was one of the youngest judges in the history of the State when he assumed duties of District Court Judge in 1971. He is a member of many community service groups and law organizations, including State Bar Committee on Standard Criminal Jury Instructions.
Judge Amy Krause
Judge Krause received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and her Juris Doctor from The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Judge Krause is also admitted to practice in the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan in Federal Court.
Throughout her legal career, Judge Krause worked as a litigation attorney for a private law firm, served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for four years and a first assistant prosecutor/Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit Director for four years. She was appointed an Assistant Attorney General in 1997 by then Attorney General Frank J. Kelley and was the first recipient of the Frank J. Kelley Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. Judge Krause worked for Attorney General Kelley and his successor, then Attorney General and now Governor, Jennifer M. Granholm, for approximately six years.
Throughout her work as a trial attorney, Judge Krause took to jury trial or preliminary examination hundreds of criminal cases in many counties throughout the State of Michigan. She is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of criminal law, trial advocacy and cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. Judge Krause has lectured for the Prosecuting Attorney Association of Michigan, the National District Attorney Association and the National College of District Attorneys. Governor Granholm appointed Judge Krause to the 54-A District Court bench and she was subsequently elected.
Judge Krause is currently Chairperson for the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board and has served in that capacity since October, 2003. She is also an adjunct professor for Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Judge Krause has also taught other judges in the state for the Michigan Judicial Institute, including teaching district judges at the New Judges Seminar in 2007. Judge Krause has taught judges on a national level regarding Domestic Violence issues for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. In September of 2007, she was recognized statewide for her outstanding work in domestic violence prevention with the State Bar of Michigan's Champion of Justice Award. Recently, Judge Krause was asked to be a panelist at Harvard Law School's Coalition Against Gender Violence.
Prior to taking the bench, Judge Krause was elected to serve on the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, during which time she chaired the Law and Courts committee. She is also involved in our community as a Board Member with the Lansing Educational Advancement Foundation (LEAF) and is a member of the Cooley Law School Inns of Court and the Zonta Club of Lansing.
