Michael Francis Cavanagh

Michael was born on October 21, 1940 to Mary Irene (Timmins) and Sylvester Joseph Cavanagh in Detroit, Michigan. The longest-serving appellate judge in Michigan history, Cavanagh was loved and respected by colleagues on the bench, his law clerks, and attorneys who appeared before him. While he was most proud of his family, Cavanagh will be remembered as a fair and dedicated jurist who served the people of Michigan honorably, treating everyone with dignity and respect.

He was graduated from the University of Detroit High School in 1958 and he received his B.A. from the University of Detroit in 1962. Cavanagh earned his J.D. from the University of Detroit Law School in 1966, and that same year married Patricia Ferriss.

Cavanagh’s career began when he was a research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1966 until 1967. He was the City Attorney for Lansing from 1967 until 1969, and he was a partner in the law firm of Farhat, Burns, and Story, P.C., from 1969 until 1973.

Cavanagh was elected to the Judicial District Court, where he served from 1973 until 1974. In 1975, he was elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals and served in that position until 1982. In November of 1982, he was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court and re-elected in November of 1990, 1998, and 2006. Cavanagh served as Chief Justice from 1991 until 1995.

Cavanagh ties Justice James V. Campbell for longest service on the Michigan Supreme Court. He sat with 22 other justices and participated on panels with 2,005 different cases argued. He wrote 277 dissents, 120 majority opinions, 65 unanimous opinions, and 95 concurring opinions. He ruled on nearly 100,000 cases during his tenure on the Court—more than half of what the Court has ever ruled on.

While Chief Justice, in 1992, he initiated what is now one of his most important legacies: the unique partnership the Supreme Court and the courts of our state have with the tribal courts and judges throughout Michigan. Along with Chief Judge Michael Petoskey of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Cavanagh established the Michigan Indian Tribal Court/State Trial Court Forum, bringing state and tribal court judges together to explore the overlapping issues facing their respective courts and to find common ground in their solutions. This partnership produced significant statewide reform, including the enactment of the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act.

In 2014, under Cavanagh’s leadership, the Court reestablished the Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum.

Cavanagh also oversaw the construction of the Michigan Hall of Justice which opened in 2002. It was important to Cavanagh that the building’s courtrooms were round in honor of the peacemaking and sentencing circles used by tribal courts.

When he wasn’t on the bench, you would find Cavanagh in a trout stream or watching sports. He was an unwavering fan of the Lions, the Tigers, the Spartans, the Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs (Patricia hales from Canada and the two were married in Toronto).

While Cavanagh was proud of his public service, he considered his family his greatest accomplishment. He had five siblings, including his brothers Paul J. Cavanagh (Shirley), and former Mayor of Detroit, Jerome P. Cavanagh (Kathy), and his sisters Eleanor Mack (John), Ann Kellett (Charles), and Margaret Joan Murphy (Fred). He had thirty-four beloved nieces and nephews. Cavanagh and his wife of 59 years had three children who he was incredibly proud of: Jane E. Cavanagh, Michael F. Cavanagh Jr. (Katie), and Megan K. Cavanagh (Jim Gaul). Cavanagh, also known as “Papa Cav,” adored his grandchildren, Brennan Patrick Cavanagh (Lauren), Seamus Michael Palmer Cavanagh, Georgia Grace Taylor, Eloise Patricia Taylor, Keegan Michael Patrick Cavanagh, Sabrina Gaul and Drew Gaul, and his great-grandchildren, Rowan Patrick Cavanagh, Cashel Edward Cavanagh, and Emer Rose Cavanagh.

A visitation for Michael will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with the rosary being prayed at 7:30 PM, at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes East Chapel, 1730 E Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 11:30 AM, with a one-hour prior visitation from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, at St. Thomas Aquinas with Father Michael Murray presiding, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823. Webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiNeXx0JOqY

Contributions in Michael's memory may be made to Pope Francis Center, 2915 W Hancock St., Detroit, MI 48208.