Dean's Speaker Series: Elizabeth Clement

Please join Dean Sant'Ambrogio and former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court (and MSU Law alum), the Honoroable Elizabeth Clement, who currently serves as the President of the National Center for State Courts, for a conversation about judging, improving access to justice, the importance of state courts, and the future of the legal profession.

Beth Clement is the fifth President and CEO of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), having assumed the role on May 1, 2025.

Prior to taking the helm at NCSC, Clement was a seasoned jurist and public servant. She joined the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2017, becoming the 113th justice and the 11th woman to serve on the bench. In November 2018, she was elected by the voters of Michigan to an eight-year term. In November 2022, she was chosen unanimously by her colleagues to serve as Chief Justice, making her the seventh woman to step into that role.

In her judicial leadership, she focused on modernizing Michigan’s court system, enhancing access to justice, improving transparency and efficiency, and strengthening collaboration across local, state, and executive branches. Her responsibilities included managing the judiciary’s annual budget, sponsoring legislative reforms, and coordinating policy with state and local partners. She served as the Chair of the Michigan Judicial Council, on the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Task Force, liaison for child welfare and juvenile justice issues, liaison for the over 200 problem solving courts across the state, and led the efforts to embrace generative AI in the appellate courts in Michigan.

Before her judicial career, Clement held key roles in all three branches of Michigan government. She worked in the legislative branch as a legal counsel and policy advisor; in the executive branch as Deputy Chief of Staff, Cabinet Secretary, and Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Rick Snyder; and she began her professional life in private practice, representing individuals in family law, probate, adoption, estate planning, and criminal cases.

Clement holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (1999) and a Juris Doctor (2002), both from Michigan State University.

As President of NCSC, her initial priorities include: Listening to the needs of state court leaders and building actionable strategies to support courts and advance the rule of law; Revitalizing NCSC’s mission-driven purpose, with strong staff engagement; and diversifying funding streams to ensure sustainability and growth of NCSC’s impact. Clement is widely recognized for her bipartisan approach, her commitment to judicial independence, and her vision for courts that serve everyone fairly, efficiently, and transparently.

The is a high profile speaker series at Michigan State University College of Law. Inviting a diverse group of legal thinkers to share their expertise provides the MSU community with thought-provoking discussions about law and contemporary issues.

Host or Publisher MSU College of Law