James Joseph Kent

James “Jim” Joseph Kent passed away on January 21, 2025 at McLaren Hospital in Lansing, Michigan of cardiac failure. He was 73 years old. He was born on January 25, 1951 to James and Lillian Kent. Jim was born while his father was a student at Michigan State University, thereby guaranteeing Jim’s lifelong love of all things Spartan.

Jim met and married the love of his life, Shirley Lynn Luce (Blasy), on August 7, 1981 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Essexville, Michigan. As a part of that package, he gained daughters Tracey and Kelley with their little brother Jamie to follow in 1986.

Jim graduated from Michigan State University in 1973 with a degree in Business Administration and went on to Thomas M. Cooley Law School where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1978. He was a licensed member of the Michigan Bar Association from 1978 until his passing.

After his admission to the Bar, Jim spent about 13 years in private legal practice before being appointed as an Administrative Law judge to the Michigan state courts, first by Governor John Engler and then by Governor Jennifer Granholm. While serving on courts for the State of Michigan, Judge Kent had the distinction of being the longest serving Appellate level Administrative Law judge in its history. During his tenure there, he was the lead author for more than 1,100 decisions and participated in more than 2,300 others. Both remain records. Many of his opinions are still at the forefront of the appellate commissions effort to deal with issues surrounding the implementation of the definition of disability. In 2010, he was appointed to the Federal Bench as an Administrative Law judge focusing on social security disability cases.

Amidst all his work as an active judge, he took seriously the responsibility of helping to foster the next generations of legal talent, spending more than 20 years teaching law classes in the distance learning programs for several colleges, beginning with the Lansing campus of Davenport University and ending with Purdue Global. He supplemented that as a frequent speaker and presenter on Worker’s Compensation Issues to a variety of business and legal organizations.

Jim passed down his deep love of Michigan State University to his children bringing them and his grandchildren to tailgates and sporting events before they could even walk. His gregarious nature and larger-than-life personality meant that even in a crowd of strangers, he was only moments away from a new friend. If they shared his love of good cooking, good barbeque, or Spartan athletics, so much the better.

Jim loved his family above all else. He loved nothing more than to be surrounded by his friends and family at a tailgate, holiday gathering, or at his family cabin in Oscoda, Michigan.

He is preceded in death by his father James Leonard (2017) and brother Melvin (2021).

Jim is survived by his loving wife Shirley; children, Tracey Dougan (Jeff), Kelley Zarka (Matt), and Jamie Kent (Nicolle); grandchildren, Theoden, Cassidy, Madylyn, and Penelope; mother, Lillian; siblings, Brian Kent, Jane Estabrook (Robert), Colleen Debruin (Donald), and Patrick Kent (Ellen); and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of the amazing life of Judge Kent will be held at The Irish Pub located at 1910 W Saginaw St, Lansing, MI 48915 beginning at 4 PM on Saturday, January 25-which also happens to be his 74th birthday. There will be pizza available, but there is also a full menu with food and drinks.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the Capital Area Humane Society, or the Greater Lansing Food Bank, https://greaterlansingfoodbank.org/give as both of these causes were very important to Jim.

Strength and Honor.