45th District Court
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General Information
Staff Directory
Location
13600 Oak Park Blvd
Oak Park,
MI
48237
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Hours
Mondays through Fridays
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Phones are answered until 4 p.m.

45th District Court

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45th District Court

Serving the Charter Township of Royal Oak and the cities of Huntington Woods, Oak Park and Pleasant Ridge, the 45th District Court provides fair, accessible and efficient service to residents across these four communities.

Two elected judges preside over the court, supported by a professional team that manages day‑to‑day operations, records, case flow, budgeting, technology and jury services.

Court operations are led by:

Meet the Judges

A woman with short blond hair wearing a judges robe smiles at the camera.

Honorable Michelle Friedman Appel

Chief Judge Pro Tem Michelle Friedman Appel joined the bench in 2008 and was re‑elected in 2014 and 2022. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Detroit School of Law and has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan since 1981.

Before becoming a judge, she spent more than 20 years as a practicing attorney, regularly appearing in courts across southeast Michigan. She also served as an Oakland County Commissioner for Oak Park, Huntington Woods and Pleasant Ridge.

Judge Friedman Appel contributes to several community and professional groups, including:

  • Oakland County District Judges Association (past president)
  • Oak Park Business Education Alliance Board
  • Junior Achievement, Oak Park School District
  • Tri‑Community Coalition
  • Michigan District Judges Association Legislative and Judicial Response Committee
  • NAACP South Oakland Chapter
  • Oak Park/ROT Optimist Club

Programs established during her tenure include the Domestic Violence Court, Volunteer Probation Officers Program, Teen Court Program and several education‑focused partnerships.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a judges robe smiles at the camera.

Honorable Jaimie Powell Horowitz

Chief Judge Jaimie Powell Horowitz was elected in 2021. Before taking the bench, she served as an assistant Wayne County prosecutor in the Homicide Unit, Elder Abuse Unit and the Felony Trial Division. She also worked as a special prosecutor for the Fair Michigan Justice Project, focusing on homicides and hate crimes against LGBTQ residents.

Her community and professional service includes:

  • Huntington Woods Ethics Board
  • Oak Park–Huntington Woods Democratic Club Executive Board
  • Wayne County Elder Abuse Advisory Council
  • State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Committee (District H)
  • State Bar Representative Assembly

Judge Powell Horowitz has been recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as an “Up and Coming Lawyer” and received the “Wings of Justice” award from the Oakland County Democratic Party. She served as president of the Oakland County District Judges Association in 2025.

A man with short brown hair wearing a judges robe smiles at the camera.

Magistrate Richard Halprin, J.D.

Appointed in 2006, Magistrate Halprin is a graduate of Michigan State University and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. His legal background includes criminal, family and juvenile law. He lives in Huntington Woods.