Judge Timothy P. Connors

Oct 14, 2026

Judge Timothy Connors represented what was best in the law and in humanity. He lived his life as a judge and as a human being with humor, integrity, compassion and steady wisdom. His courtroom was a place of healing, peace and respect for all. He was a shining example of what others could achieve.

Judge Connors was known and beloved by people from all walks of life. Many of you visiting this page were fortunate enough to know him. He no doubt made you feel special, included, happy, important, seen, heard, and worthy. This fund seeks to honor those memories and keep his legacy alive, and to ensure his groundbreaking teaching in peacemaking and trial advocacy will continue to be practiced for generations to come.

Judge Connors was a Washtenaw County Circuit judge from 1997 - 2025. During his tenure, he served as a judge in circuit, district, probate and tribal courts. He also served as chief judge for the circuit, district and unified courts. He founded the Michigan courts’ first Peacemaking Court in 2013, and served as its first presiding judge. After his judicial retirement he became a successful mediator, working almost daily up to the time of his passing.

Judge Connors was a lecturer at the University of Michigan law school teaching “Trial Practice” and “Peacemaking in State Court Justice Systems”. He also taught trial advocacy and peacemaking as an adjunct professor at Wayne State Law School and Vermont Law School. Judge Connors actively worked to bring awareness of the benefits of peacemaking to law school curriculums. The model Judge Connors built in Michigan became a national reference point for state court peacemaking and teaching. Peacemaking curricula have since been incorporated not only in Michigan, but also nationally in law schools such as Columbia University, Yale University, the University of New Mexico and the University of Washington.

Judge Connors was a visionary who used peace, resolution, dignity and restorative justice to elevate the practice of law. He incorporated peacemaking principles, philosophies and procedures shared by Tribal communities into the state court justice systems with the important support of the Tribal community and the Michigan Supreme Court. Under his leadership, peacemaking efforts have been used in wrongful death suits, guardianship disputes, estate distribution issues, custody and parenting time disputes and neglect and abuse proceedings. He lived by the edict that law practitioners are healers, not profiteers of controversy.

Given Judge Connors’ tireless work as a judge, mediator, peacemaker, humanitarian and community leader, he received many awards during his lifetime. They include:

Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Award (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Willow Run Branch);

Daniel J Wright Lifetime Achievement Award for Exemplary Service to Michigan’s Families and Children (Michigan Supreme Court);

Innovator of the Year Award (National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges);

Hilda Gage Judicial Excellence Award (Michigan Judges Association);

Reverend Thomas H. Smith Humanitarian Service Award (Brown Chapel African Methodist Epscopal Church);

Justice Blair Moody Award for Significant Contributions to Judicial Excellence - three time recipient. (Washtenaw Trial Lawyers Association);

Child Welfare Jurist of the Year (Foster Care Review Board);

Peace Builder Award for Peacemaking Court (Washtenaw County Dispute Resolution Center);

“Top Circuit Judges in Southeast Michigan” (recognition by Detroit Premier Business Journal);

Tecumseh Peacekeeping Award for Dedicated Service Protecting the Rights of American Indians (Michigan State Bar Indian Law Section);

Outstanding Judicial Service Award (Washtenaw County Bar Association);

Judge of the Year (Michigan Trial Lawyers Association);

Patriot Award for Outstanding Service to the Bench, Bar and Community (Washtenaw County Bar Association);

Judicial Excellence Award (Litigation Section of the State Bar of Michigan);

Hero of ADR Award (Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Michigan).

Most of all, Judge Connors was an incredible human being filled with love and was generous in sharing it. Had he written this page, he would have concluded it with “Siochana”, an Irish word meaning peace, and “Be the Light”. Words we can live by to honor his memory.