The newest appointment to the Michigan Court of Appeals is a federal prosecutor who has supervised investigations with natural security implications.
Jonathan Tukel was named to the bench by Gov. Rick Snyder this week. He will replace Henry Saad, who is resigning after 23 years at the court.
The 56-year-old Tukel has been an assistant U.S. attorney with the Department of Justice since 1990.
He is a member of the conservative Federalist Society and earned bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Michigan.
He will have to seek election in 2018 to fill the remainder of Saad's six-year term.
Snyder, a Republican, says he is "thrilled" to appoint Tukel, who he says has had a "long and distinguished career as a thought leader in the law."
