Grand Rapids Reporter

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that she has appointed Christopher P. Yates to the Court of Appeals - District 3; Tony Flores to the 54A District Court of the City of Lansing; and Robert K. Gaecke Jr., to the 12th District Court of Jackson County.

"I am humbled and deeply grateful to Gov. Whitmer for giving me the opportunity to serve on the Michigan Court of Appeals," Yates said in a recent press release issued on the governor's office website. "After spending 14 years as a trial judge, I'm enthusiastic about serving my fellow Michiganders in a new role as an appellate judge. My practice always included a large number of appeals, so it will be a familiar pleasure to return to appellate work."

Yates is currently a judge of the 17th Circuit Court of Kent County and has been an established judge of the court circuit since 2008, the release said. He was a partner in the law firms Yates, LaGrand & Denenfeld PLLC; and Willey, Chamberlain & Yates LLP.

Yates has Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College, the release said. He serves on several law associations, including the State Bar of Michigan.

Yates' appointment fills a partial term, which will begin on April 18 and conclude at noon on Jan. 1, 2023; because Judge Jane M. Beckering was appointed to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, the release said. Should Yates desire to complete Beckering's term; which runs until Jan. 1, 2025; he would have to run for reelection in November.

"Judge Yates, Mr. Flores and Mr. Geacke will bring decades of legal experience to the bench and ensure that the rule of law is upheld across Michigan," Whitmer said in the release. She added that she was honored to have appointed the distinguished men to serve as judges.