U-M grad trusts former professor Kimberly Ann Thomas to protect Michiganders’ rights on state Supreme Court

For Loren Lee, Kimberly Ann Thomas isn’t just an old law school professor. She’s a mentor and a friend—and someone who she thinks Michiganders can trust to make thoughtful decisions as a judge on the highest court in the state. 

MICHIGAN—Loren Lee remembers the moment she met Kimberly Ann Thomas.

At 26, Lee had decided to return to school after a five-year break from college, and was feeling overwhelmed as a second-year student at the University of Michigan Law School in 2019.  

But she knew she wanted to become a litigator and was eager for any opportunity for hands-on experience to complement the lessons she was learning in class. So, she decided to enroll in a litigation clinic that was led by Thomas—and her professor made a lasting impression.

“I was immediately struck by how warm she was,” Lee told The ‘Gander. “She was someone who was very serious about what she was doing, very passionate about what she was doing … but at the same time, just also so genuine, and warm, and kind toward her students.”

Thomas, who still works as a law professor in Ann Arbor, is running as a Democratic-backed candidate for one of two open seats on the Michigan Supreme Court this year. Her opponent is Republican state Rep. Andrew Fink, who was nominated by the Michigan Republican Party.

Democratic-backed justices currently hold a 4-3 majority on the Court. Republican victories could flip control of the court, while two Democratic wins would yield a 5-2 majority.

Lee graduated in 2021 and now works as an attorney in Chicago. And she said Michiganders should consider her former professor’s depth of experience, as well her compassion for her clients, when considering which candidate deserves to serve an eight-year term on the Court. 

“I think that she just embodies all of the right values and things that we, as a people, should want in people who are going to occupy seats on this bench,” Lee said. “She’s not looking for an easy way out. [Thomas] is going to make the right decision for as many people as possible.”

‘A Mentor and a Friend’

In an exclusive interview with The ‘Gander, Lee described how Thomas “very quickly” took her “under her wing” during her second year of law school, and how her former professor ultimately played a pivotal role in shaping her views on justice, as well as the trajectory of her career.

The interview appears to mark the first time that one of Thomas’ former students has spoken out about their professor’s candidacy since she launched her bid for the state Supreme Court.

“It was just really nice to be able to find comfort in someone at her level,” Lee said. “She was my professor, but she very quickly became a mentor and a friend to me—in a way that I can’t really say about anyone else who taught me, or who I worked with at the Law School.”

While in school, Lee said that Thomas once offered her a particularly challenging case—one involving a juvenile who was sentenced to life in prison without parole. And over the course of that semester, Lee worked closely with Thomas to file her first-ever legal brief and developed a deep respect for her professor’s approach to both her clients and students.

“She’s just a very authentic person. She is who she is. And I think for someone like me, who also craves genuine connections with people, it was just easy to sit across from her at a table and have a conversation,” Lee said. “I just appreciated that she cared about the process and about me as a person, as a future lawyer, as a student—just as much as she did for her clients.”

If she’s elected, Thomas has said she plans to use a judicial philosophy “grounded in her knowledge of applying the law and dedication to equal justice for all Michiganders.”

“I really understand how our court systems function, what that experience is like, what clients feel in that system, and how they want to be heard,” Thomas told The ‘Gander this summer. “They want to make sure their voices are respected. They worry about the quality of justice.”

Ahead of the election, Thomas has been endorsed by several reproductive rights groups, which say Michiganders can trust Thomas to protect their legal right to access abortion. Lee also thinks Thomas will make the “right decisions” when it comes to protecting basic civil rights.

“Being a great lawyer starts with being a great person. And [Thomas] just really embodies that,” Lee said. “I personally want people in those seats who are going to think critically about really hard questions, who are going to be selfless in the decisions that they’re making, who are going to advocate for, and be mindful of the people of the state, and really just who you can trust.”

Of course, as a resident of Illinois, Lee won’t be able to vote for her former professor this year. But she’s counting on Michiganders to do their own research and reach the same conclusion:

“She is the type of person that would be mindful and who’s going to make the right decisions,” Lee said. “Many things at issue today are about basic human decency and fundamental rights, and you really need to be able to trust the people that you are bestowing that power upon.”

What’s at stake?

State Supreme Court elections in Michigan are technically nonpartisan—meaning all four candidates, including Thomas, will appear without a political party label on the ballot.

And with crucial decisions involving reproductive rights, abortion bans, gun safety laws, and election integrity all making their way to state supreme courts across the country in recent years, whoever wins will have a hand in making some big decisions for the people of Michigan.

“I hope that people will just spend [a few] minutes researching these people before they show up to the polls,” Lee said. “This is incredibly important. For a lot of average Americans, especially non-lawyers, it’s easy to lose sight of how important these seats are when there’s also a presidential election happening at the same time. … Making the right decision for these seats really does impact your day-to-day lives and the lives of people that you care about.”

READ MORE: Shifting Court majority could spell big changes for Michiganders’ rights

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