Hon. Lawrence Paul Zatkoff

The Honorable Lawrence Paul Zatkoff passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2015. At the time of his death, he was serving as a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. He was appointed as a United States District Judge by President Ronald Reagan and was sworn in on June 6, 1986. During his 28 years on the federal bench, he presided in Detroit for 18 years before re-establishing the Court’s presence in Port Huron for the past 10 years. He served as the Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Michigan for seven years, and he also served on the Judicial Conference of the United States, including a term as the Chairman of the Committee on Judicial Security. Prior to being appointed to the United States District Court, Judge Zatkoff served eight years as a Circuit Judge and Probate Judge for the County of Macomb, commencing in 1978. Before his nearly 40 years on the bench, Judge Zatkoff practiced law in Detroit and Macomb County, he served briefly as an assistant prosecuting attorney, and he taught at the Detroit College of Law. He graduated from the University of Detroit in 1962 and from the Detroit College of Law, cum laude, in 1966, while working full-time at the Chrysler Corporation. Judge Zatkoff is survived by his loving wife, Kelly, his children Catherine (Mike), Joseph and Mary Elizabeth as well as grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. He was preceded in death by his son Lawrence Jr. Visitation Monday 4-8pm and Tuesday 3-8pm at the Kaul Funeral Home, 28433 Jefferson Avenue, St. Clair Shores. In State Wednesday 10am until 11am, the time of the funeral service at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 1100 Lone Pine Road (At Telegraph), Bloomfield Hills. Interment White Chapel Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to “Historical Society, U.S. District Court, E.D. Michigan” or the University of Detroit Mercy.