Matthew Ackerman

Matthew Ackerman
Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2025
Preceded byKathleen Jansen
Personal details
Born
Royal Oak, Michigan
EducationHarvard University (A.B.)
London School of Economics (M.Sc.)
Columbia Law School (J.D.)

Matthew Ackerman is an American attorney and judge serving on the Michigan Court of Appeals. He was elected in November 2024 and assumed office on January 1, 2025, becoming at age 33 the youngest judge in the court’s history.[1][2]

Early life and education

Ackerman was born in Royal Oak, Michigan. He graduated cum laude with high honors in economics from Harvard University, earned a master’s degree in economics with merit from the London School of Economics, and received his Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School.[3][4] During law school, he served as an editor on the Columbia Law Review. He was named a James Kent Scholar all three years, earning him the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Prize.[1][4]

Ackerman began his legal career by clerking for Judge Jerry Edwin Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Judge Michael H. Park of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.[1]

He then entered private practice, joining his family’s firm, Ackerman & Ackerman, P.C., in Birmingham, Michigan, where he focused on eminent domain and property rights litigation.[5]

Ackerman has also contributed to legal scholarship, authoring several articles on eminent domain and just compensation, and serves as an adjunct professor at Michigan State University College of Law.[3]

Judicial career

In the November 5, 2024, general election, Ackerman was elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals with over 55 percent of the votes.[6]

Ackerman's notable published opinions include:

  • In People v. Cao, No. 373185 (Mich. Ct. App. Oct. 6, 2025), Ackerman authored the “landmark”[7] published opinion upholding the constitutionality of Michigan’s anti-hazing statute in a case stemming from the death of a Michigan State University fraternity pledge.[8][9][10][11]
  • Ackerman authored McCallum v. M-97 Auto Dealer, Inc., No. 367630 (Mich. Ct. App. Sept. 30, 2025), which involved a used-car dealership that misrepresented the true mileage of a vehicle. The opinion opened with and included quotations from Roald Dahl’s Matilda.[12][13]
  • Ackerman also authored Nonhuman Rights Project, Inc. v. DeYoung Family Zoo, LLC, No. 369247 (Mich. Ct. App. Oct. 17, 2025), in which the Court rejected a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of seven chimpanzees held at a private zoo in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Court held that chimpanzees are not “persons” entitled to personal-liberty rights under Michigan law and explained that “No exception exists for ‘intelligent’ animals, which in any event has no natural stopping point.”[14][15][16][17]

Selected writings

  • Ackerman, Matthew (March 17, 2022). "Reflections on a Qualified (Immunity) Circuit Split". Ackerman & Ackerman. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  • Ackerman, Matthew (August 2024). "The Pitfalls of Objectively Measured Just Compensation: When Market Value Isn't Enough" (PDF). Ackerman & Ackerman. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  • Ackerman, Alan T.; Ackerman, Matthew (April 2024). "Valuation of Partial Takings" (PDF). The Practical Real Estate Lawyer. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  • Ackerman, Matthew; Egalite, Anna J. (November 2017). "A Critical Look at Methodologies Used to Evaluate Charter School Effectiveness". Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability. 29 (4). Springer: 363–393. doi:10.1007/s11092-017-9266-0. Retrieved August 26, 2025.

References

  1. ^ a b c Kirvan, Tom (July 24, 2025). "Judge's investiture ceremony attracts a host of dignitaries". LegalNews.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  2. ^ Zlatopolsky, Ashley (17 June 2025). "Temple Beth El Member Sworn in as Michigan's Youngest Court of Appeals Judge". The Jewish News. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Matthew Ackerman". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Michigan Court of Appeals – Current Judges". Michigan Courts. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  5. ^ Kirvan, Tom (December 14, 2021). "Family affair: Prominent business law firm adds to its considerable luster". LegalNews.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  6. ^ "Ackerman Wins Election To 2nd District Court of Appeals Seat". LegalNews.com. November 8, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  7. ^ "Michigan Anti-Hazing Law Upheld in Landmark MSU Fraternity Death Case". Tampa Free Press. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  8. ^ "Hazing charge upheld in MSU pledge's alcohol death". MLive. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  9. ^ "Appeals court upholds Michigan's anti-hazing law". Michigan Public Radio. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  10. ^ "Appeals court upholds Michigan's anti-hazing law". WKAR Public Media. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  11. ^ (Michigan Court of Appeals October 6, 2025), Text.
  12. ^ (Michigan Court of Appeals September 30, 2025), Text.
  13. ^ "Treble damages stand in odometer fraud case". Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  14. ^ Coleman, Jane (October 28, 2025). "Michigan Court Denies Chimpanzees Habeas Corpus, Must Stay in Zoo". Legal Insurrection. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  15. ^ "Appeals court rejects habeas corpus for chimpanzees". Michigan Advance. October 20, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  16. ^ "Chimps don't have human rights, must stay in zoo, court says". Associated Press via WWSB. October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  17. ^ (Michigan Court of Appeals October 17, 2025), Text.

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