Megan Kathleen Cavanagh

Wrote the unanimous Ellis opinion striking down lifetime registration triggered by new nonsexual offenses. Covered people with sexual convictions predating the registration law.

July 22, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: law.justia.com

Wrote the unanimous Shaver opinion allowing retroactive challenges to unconstitutional 2011 sex-offender registration requirements. Covered offenses committed before 2011.

May 29, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: law.justia.com

Co-founded a child-protection task force and presented its report. Supported a statewide office providing legal representation to parents and children.

October 22, 2024Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Wrote an opinion striking down ballot-petition geographic signature caps and paid-circulator affidavits. Upheld a paid-circulator checkbox.

January 24, 2022Supports Civil Rights

Source: law.justia.com

Received the Canton Democratic Club endorsement for the Michigan Supreme Court in the November 2026 election.

October 1, 2026

Source: cantondems.com

Received an Equality Michigan Action Network endorsement for the state Supreme Court.

September 28, 2026

Source: equalitymiaction.org

Received the Nurses for America endorsement for the Michigan Supreme Court in the 2026 election.

September 23, 2026

Source: nursesforamerica.net

Told a League of Women Voters candidate forum that her father taught her the importance of an independent court and public service.

September 22, 2026

Source: michiganpublic.org

Received the Small Business Association of Michigan Small Biz PAC endorsement for the state Supreme Court.

September 14, 2026

Source: sbam.org

Visited Sexton High School to recognize participation in a Supreme Court civic-education program and discuss learning about the courts.

September 10, 2026

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Received the Michigan Jewish Democrats endorsement for the Michigan Supreme Court in the 2026 election.

August 25, 2026

Source: mijewishdems.org

Received Eric Holder's endorsement for reelection to the Michigan Supreme Court through the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

June 23, 2026

Source: democraticredistricting.com

Received the Michigan League of Conservation Voters endorsement for reelection to the state Supreme Court.

June 17, 2026

Source: michiganlcv.org

Received the Michigan social workers' M-PACE endorsement for the Michigan Supreme Court in the 2026 election.

May 5, 2026

Source: nasw-michigan.org

Received the Michigan Democratic Party endorsement for the Michigan Supreme Court at its 2026 endorsement convention.

April 19, 2026

Source: michigandems.com

Received the Michigan AFL-CIO endorsement for reelection to the Michigan Supreme Court.

March 11, 2026

Source: miaflcio.org

Received the EMILYs List endorsement for reelection to the Michigan Supreme Court.

March 10, 2026

Source: emilyslist.org

Supported Operation Drive grants totaling $1 million to 12 district courts. The program helped defendants resolve legal and financial barriers to valid driver's licenses.

March 9, 2026

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Served on a national court committee that helped develop a public-opinion survey about trust and confidence in state courts.

December 10, 2025

Source: ncsc.org

Was unanimously chosen by her fellow justices to succeed Elizabeth Clement as Michigan Supreme Court chief justice.

March 13, 2025

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Supported a tribal-law handbook shared with Michigan's five law schools while serving as the Supreme Court's tribal-court liaison.

November 12, 2024

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Graduated from the University of Michigan's engineering school and Wayne State's law school. Practiced appellate law at Garan Lucow Miller for over 15 years before joining the Supreme Court.

June 20, 2024

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Was appointed initial chair of Michigan's Commission on Well-Being in the Law, which addressed mental health within the legal profession.

September 20, 2023

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Co-chaired a task force that released 21 recommendations addressing depression, anxiety, and substance use among legal professionals and law students.

August 21, 2023

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Worked in environmental consulting before law school. Practiced patent litigation before moving to appellate law.

March 27, 2023

Source: portiaprojectpodcast.com

Helped launch the Rapid Permanency Program in 2020. It helped children in foster care reach permanent homes during the pandemic.

February 18, 2021

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Received the Iron Workers Local 25 endorsement for the Michigan Supreme Court in the 2018 general election.

November 5, 2018

Source: ironworkers25.org

Received the Michigan League of Conservation Voters endorsement for the Michigan Supreme Court.

October 18, 2018

Source: michiganlcv.org

Received the Michigan AFL-CIO endorsement for the Michigan Supreme Court.

April 9, 2018

Source: miaflcio.org

Chaired the State Bar's appellate practice council. The council unanimously approved her draft letter opposing changes to Supreme Court terms.

June 23, 2011

Source: higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com

Represented MotorCity Casino and a security officer in Romanski. The appeals court upheld unlawful-arrest liability and ordered reduced punitive damages or a new damages trial.

October 28, 2005

Source: case-law.vlex.com

Joined the Eads ruling striking down a 50-to-75-year murder sentence for an offense committed at age 16. The ruling applied retroactively.

July 30, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Wrote the unanimous Ellis opinion striking down lifetime registration triggered by new nonsexual offenses. Covered people with sexual convictions predating the registration law.

July 22, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Wrote the unanimous Shaver opinion allowing retroactive challenges to unconstitutional 2011 sex-offender registration requirements. Covered offenses committed before 2011.

May 29, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Joined the Kardasz ruling upholding Michigan's 2021 sex-offender registration law against a challenge alleging cruel or unusual punishment.

December 19, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Wrote the lead Carson opinion finding a sweeping cellphone search warrant unconstitutional. Rejected the defendant's claim of inadequate legal representation.

July 31, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Wrote a majority opinion holding marijuana odor alone did not justify a vehicle search after Michigan legalized adult use.

April 2, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Wrote an opinion requiring professional guardians to use valid powers of attorney before delegating final decisions. Allowed employee assistance with other tasks.

May 28, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Wrote an opinion preserving shippers' duty of care for loaded cargo. Found DTE did not breach that duty in a driver's injury case.

July 1, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Wrote an opinion striking down ballot-petition geographic signature caps and paid-circulator affidavits. Upheld a paid-circulator checkbox.

January 24, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Wrote the Headlee opinion counting Proposal A school payments and state-mandate funding as state spending on local governments.

July 28, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: courts.michigan.gov

Wrote a majority opinion allowing misconduct-in-office prosecution of federal agents enforcing Michigan law on a joint task force.

July 25, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Represented MotorCity Casino in Lindsey. The appeals court upheld dismissal of federal civil-rights claims over security detentions.

May 1, 2007Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: docs.justia.com