Detroit-based Butzel Long announced Kurtis T. Wilder, of counsel to the firm, has been elected first vice chair and chair elect of the Interlochen Center for the Arts board of trustees.
Wilder is a former Michigan Supreme Court justice and concentrates his practice on litigation and appeals. He was appointed to the supreme court by former Governor Rick Snyder in 2017.
He was judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1998-2017 and on the Washtenaw County Trial Court from 1992-1998.
Interlochen was founded in 1928 and is in the northwest Lower Peninsula. Each year, thousands of artists and arts patrons come to Interlochen to educational and cultural opportunities, and students study music, theater, visual art, film, creative writing, and dance.
“It is important to instill an appreciation for the arts at a young age,” Wilder says. “When students embark on this journey, they discover new interests and talents. Interlochen brings students together from across the globe for the summer Arts Camp and the Arts Academy for an unmatched educational experience that will forever change their lives.
“The Interlochen community also offers extensive educational opportunities for students of any age through the Lifelong Arts Learning Program,” he added. “I look forward to serving in this far-reaching leadership role.”
The 112th justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Wilder attended the University of Michigan for his undergraduate and law degrees, which he earned in 1981 and 1984, respectively.
He is a member of the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation and the Wolverine Bar Association. He is also past president of the Michigan Judges Association and past chairman of the State Bar Judicial Conference.
Wilder is also former chair of the State of Michigan Community Correction Advisory Board; former board chair of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and Nonprofit Enterprise at Work; and former board member of The Sphinx Organization; Rotary Club of Ann Arbor; Ann Arbor Symphony; and American Red Cross, Washtenaw County Chapter.
Finally, Wilder also serves on the boards of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars, and The Children’s Foundation.
Butzel Long was founded in 1854 and has offices in Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, Lansing, Ann Arbor, New York City, and Washington, D.C., as well as an alliance office in Beijing.
