The Detroit Bar Association Foundation will honor the Edward Ewell Jr., chief judge of the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan, as the 22nd recipient of the Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award.
Ewell will be recognized at the foundation’s fundraising gala on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Detroit Yacht Club on Belle Isle. The award will be presented by Dennis W. Archer, former mayor of Detroit and former justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
The Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award recognizes attorneys and jurists who exemplify the highest ideals of the law as a form of public service. Ewell has built a distinguished career in law, government, and the judiciary, complemented by a longstanding commitment to community leadership and public service.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Atlanta University, and Wayne State University Law School, Ewell began his legal career clerking for federal appellate Judge Damon J. Keith. He subsequently practiced at Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz, served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and held the position of general counsel for Wayne County.
Appointed to the Wayne County Circuit Court in August 2003, Ewell served more than a decade in the Criminal Division, including five years as presiding judge. He later served in the Civil Division, including six years as a business court judge. On Jan. 1, 2026, the Michigan Supreme Court appointed him chief judge of the Third Judicial Circuit Court, where he continues to preside over a business court docket.
Ewell’s commitment to public service extends beyond the courtroom. He has served on the boards of numerous civic, educational, and community organizations, including Henry Ford Health Systems, the Youth Connection, the Wayne State University Alumni Association, the Wayne State University Law School Board of Visitors, the Association of Black Judges, the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, and Sobriety House. He also serves as chairman of the Deacon Board at Corinthian Baptist Church.
“His commitment to the law, the community, and public service makes all of us at the Detroit Bar Association and Foundation proud to recognize him as the 22nd recipient of the Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award,” says Tracey Cooley, executive director of the Detroit Bar Association and Foundation.
Proceeds from the gala will support the foundation’s legal clinics and community outreach programs throughout the Detroit metropolitan area.
