Timothy P. Connors

Judge Timothy P. Connors is a seasoned legal professional with dual roles as a State Court Judge and adjunct professor at Vermont Law School, Wayne State Law School, and lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School. Since 1991, he has served in Washtenaw County courts, specializing in Civil, Domestic, and Juvenile matters, including Abuse/Neglect dockets. As Presiding Judge of the Washtenaw County Peacemaking Court, he pioneered integrating Indigenous peacemaking principles into state justice systems to resolve complex family and community disputes.

He holds a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School and a B.A. from the University of Michigan. His research focuses on tribal-state legal collaborations, peacemaking practices, and child welfare law, highlighted by publications like Exit, Pursued By a Bear (ABA Judges Journal, 2016) and Our Children are Sacred (ABA Judges Journal, 2011).

Judge Connors has received over a dozen awards, including the 2021 Daniel J. Wright Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2017 National Innovator of the Year Award for his Peacemaking Court initiative. His work emphasizes culturally responsive justice, particularly for Indigenous communities and families.

He actively advises on tribal-state judicial reforms and serves as a consultant for the Native American Rights Fund’s Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative. His contributions bridge traditional Indigenous conflict resolution methods with modern legal frameworks, impacting policy at local and state levels.