Judge Linda S. Hallmark: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Oakland County Probate Court, Department Courtroom W4, Second Floor

Appointed By: Gov. John M. Engler

Biography

Hon. Linda S. Hallmark is a judge for the Oakland County Probate Court in Michigan. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor John Engler in 1997.

During her judicial tenure, Hallmark has served several terms as the Chief Judge of the court (2000 to 2004; 2011 to 2013; 2016 to 2017; 2022 to present). She also spent four years as presiding judge of the Circuit Court Family Division (2000 to 2004). Hallmark has served in the Circuit Court Family Division since its inception in 1998.

Prior to her appointment, she had worked for seventeen years as a referee for the Oakland County Circuit Court (1980 to 1997). Before that, Hallmark was an attorney at May & May, P.C. (1977 to 1980).

She received a B.S. from Michigan State University in 1973. Hallmark went on to complete a J.D. at Wayne State University Law School in 1977. She was admitted to practice in Michigan (1977), the United States Supreme Court, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Her memberships have included the Oakland County Bar Association, the Michigan Inter-Professional Association, the State Bar Association (Fellow), the Michigan Probate Judges Association, the Women Lawyers Association, the Oakland County Bar Association Inn of Court, and the Women Officials Network.

Hallmark was a past president of the Michigan Family Court Forum, the Judge's Culinary Challenge Board of Directors, the Southeast Michigan Probate Judges Association, and the Referees Association of Michigan. She was also a past chair of the Michigan Family Law Section and the Oakland County Bar Association Family Law Committee. In addition, Hallmark sat as a member of the Michigan Supreme Court Criminal Court Rules Committee and the State Bar Representative Assembly.

She also served as a former hearing panelist on the Attorney Grievance Commission and was the longest-serving member of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, a position to which she was appointed by former Governor John Engler, Governor Jennifer Granholm, and Governor Rick Snyder.

Hallmark has taught as an instructor at the Michigan Judicial Insititute New Judges School and has been a presenter and author for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Michigan Judicial Institute, the Oakland County Bar Association, the Michigan Judges Association, the Michigan Probate Judges Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and the American Bar Association.

She received the Women Officials Network Wonder Woman Award, the John N. O’Brien Award, the Eugene A. Moore Champion of Justice Award, the Lady Justice Recognition, and the Women’s Lawyers Association Distinguished Jurist Award.

About

Linda S. Hallmark
Current Appointment Oakland County Probate Court, Department Courtroom W4, Second Floor	Oakland County Probate Court, Department Courtroom W4, Second Floor
Election/Appointment 1998 - Re-elected November 5, 2002 - Re-elected November 7, 2006 - Re-elected November 6, 2012 - Re-elected	1998 - Re-elected November 5, 2002 - Re-elected November 7, 2006 - Re-elected November 6, 2012 - Re-elected
Education J.D., Wayne State University Law School - 1977 B.S., Michigan State University - 1973	J.D., Wayne State University Law School - 1977 B.S., Michigan State University - 1973