Nicole L. Castka
MI · Judge, Wayne County Third Circuit Court
Nicole L. Castka is a Wayne County Third Circuit Court judge assigned to the Criminal Division. Appointed in 2025, she previously spent more than two decades as a Detroit criminal-defense lawyer and sole practitioner.
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — General
General · 2 records
The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected an ineffective-assistance claim concerning Nicole Castka's decision, as trial counsel, to withdraw a proposed expert-evidence hearing after the supporting expert became uncooperative; the court affirmed the convictions.
July 10, 2025
Source: courts.michigan.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Nicole Castka taught Wayne County defense lawyers strategies for representing clients with mental-health challenges, including competency, criminal responsibility, and not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity issues.
February 15, 2023
Source: waynecountydefendertraining.com · researched July 13, 2026
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 2 favorable
The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected an ineffective-assistance claim concerning Nicole Castka's decision, as trial counsel, to withdraw a proposed expert-evidence hearing after the supporting expert became uncooperative; the court affirmed the convictions.
July 10, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: courts.michigan.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Nicole Castka taught Wayne County defense lawyers strategies for representing clients with mental-health challenges, including competency, criminal responsibility, and not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity issues.
February 15, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: waynecountydefendertraining.com · researched July 13, 2026
Race Nicole L. Castka is in:
- 3rd Circuit Judge of Circuit Court - Incumbent - 6 Year Terms · November 3, 2026 · Wayne County, Michigan · incumbent
Profile last researched July 13, 2026.