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Judge Rancilio Appointed as Chief Judge Pro Tempore

Press Release
40 N. Main Street
Mount Clemens, Michigan 48043
Phone: (586) 469-5150
www.macombgov.org

News
James M. Biernat Jr., Chief Judge
16th Judicial Circuit Court,
Macomb County Probate Court,
42nd District Courts

 

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For Immediate Release 
Media Contact: Julie Bovenschen
                             julie.bovenschen@macombgov.org

 Date:  January 17th, 2025

 

Judge Rancilio Appointed as
Chief Judge Pro Tempore

Image of Judge Rachel Rancilio

Chief Judge James Biernat has appointed Judge Rancilio as Chief Judge Pro Tempore. Her post will begin on January 21, 2025. Judge Rancilio was elected to the Circuit Court Bench on November 8, 2016. Prior to her election, she was in private practice, specializing in complex domestic, civil, and criminal litigation. Judge Rancilio played Division 1 Softball while attending the University of Detroit Mercy on an academic scholarship. She subsequently attended Wayne State University Law School and was a member of Wayne State University’s Law Review.


Since taking the bench on January 1, 2017, Judge Rancilio has been assigned to the Family Division of the Macomb County Circuit Court and has served as the Presiding Judge of the Family Division since January 1, 2023. She has presided over hundreds of complex divorce and custody cases, juvenile matters, and neglect proceedings. In addition to her family court cases, Judge Rancilio has been involved with the Court’s Adult Drug Court program since 2023. Judge Rancilio will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new leadership role in the Court.


Judge Matt Switalski, the current Chief Judge Pro Tempore, will be appointed as Presiding Judge of the Family Division effective January 21, 2025. Judge Switalski has been Chief Judge Pro Tempore since January 1, 2016.


Chief Judge Biernat commented “Judge Rancilio will do an excellent job as Chief Pro Tem just as Judge Switalski did. They will both continue to be incredible assets to our bench.”

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Department:16th Judicial Circuit Court
Type:
Press Release