HONORABLE JULIE A. O’NEILL
56A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
EXPERIENCE:
The Honorable Julie A. O’Neill was elected as Eaton County’s District Court Judge in the 2016 election and took the bench on January 3rd, 2017 where she handles a criminal and civil docket while also presiding over the Sobriety Hybrid Treatment Court. Judge O’Neill serves as the Vice President on the Community Corrections Board; is a Member of the Michigan District Court Judge’s Association (MDJA), serving as a Legislative Committee Member; is the Vice President of the Eaton County Palliative Care Board and is an International Rotary Member.
Prior to being sworn in as a Judge, Julie O’Neill had a distinguished fourteen (14) year career in private practice where she practiced throughout the State of Michigan and also was a Panel Attorney for the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan office of the Public Defender. Judge O’Neill also worked ten (10) years as an Adjunct Professor at Lansing Community College (LCC) in its Paralegal Program and at Thomas M. Cooley Law School teaching Trial Skills.
EDUCATION AND AWARDS:
The Honorable Julie A. O’Neill got her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, specialty in Juvenile Delinquency, from Michigan State University and her Juris Doctorate Degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Litigation Specialty, recipient of the Leadership Achievement Award. While in law school, Judge O’Neill served on the Association for Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) and represented the school on a National ATLA Trial Team; was a founding Executive Board Member of the Mock Trial Organization and served as the Editor and Chief of the Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law.
While attending law school and studying for the Bar Exam, Judge O’Neill also worked three (3) years as a Law Clerk for the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), Michigan Attorney General’s Office, Tort Division (externship), and at the Livingston County Friend of the Court for one (1) year.