Jacob James Cunningham

Professional career

• During law school, he interned with Judge Wendy Potts, which solidified his interest in courtroom work and legal problem-solving
• Michigan Supreme Court’s Child Welfare Leadership Workgroup Judge Cunningham’s career reflects a combination of early legal mentorship, rapid professional advancement, and engagement in both high-profile and community-focused judicial work

Education

Additional information

• Elected to the Oakland County Circuit Court in November 2018 and began his tenure in January 2019, initially assigned to the family division.
• Judge Cunningham emphasizes fairness, accessibility, and thoroughness in his courtroom.
• Judge Cunningham presides over a variety of cases, including family, civil, and criminal matters.
• He values pretrial preparation, clear communication with attorneys, and ensuring that court orders are properly documented.
• He has expressed pride in serving his local community and maintaining a career rooted in Michigan
• He also volunteers in the juvenile drug treatment court, providing alternative approaches to traditional juvenile cases.
• He conducts motion calls, pretrial conferences, and settlement conferences, and utilizes Zoom for certain hearings in accordance with Michigan Supreme Court directives
• He became one of the youngest judges elected to the Oakland County Circuit Court at age 33
• A native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Cunningham attended Cranbrook Kingswood and grew up in a family of lawyers, which influenced his career path.
• Prior to his election, he held the role of a judicial clerk for Judge Wendy Potts and as a staff attorney for Judge Mary Ellen Brennan.
• He is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Oakland County Bar Association, American Judges Association, Michigan Judges Association, and the Michigan Supreme Court’s Child Welfare Leadership Workgroup