Downriver Bar Association

Downriver Bar Association The Downriver Bar Association- where Downriver attorneys go to:
·Network
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·Mentor

The Down River Bar Association- where Down River Attorneys go for socializing and business

We had a great end-of-fiscal-year meeting last night! Thank you, Chief Gary Bresnehan of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s O...
05/08/2026

We had a great end-of-fiscal-year meeting last night!

Thank you, Chief Gary Bresnehan of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office who lead the discussion: “From Charging Decisions to District Court Practice: A Prosecutor’s Perspective.”

We held our annual election to replace outgoing Board President, Brian Berry. We welcome and congratulate newly-elected Board member, Robert Donald! We thank Brian Berry for four years of service!
--
Sincerely,
Your Board of Directors:
Brian T. Berry - President
Hon Elizabeth DiSanto - Vice President
Krystle-Marie Medina - Secretary
Anthony S. Guerriero - Treasurer

MEETING TONIGHT!!!!📅 Wednesday, May 6, 2026🕠 5:30 PM📍 Whiskeys on the WaterThis is our last membership meeting for the f...
05/06/2026

MEETING TONIGHT!!!!

📅 Wednesday, May 6, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Whiskeys on the Water

This is our last membership meeting for the fiscal year until we restart in September. Tonight, we will hold our annual election to replace outgoing Board member Brian Berry. The newly elected Board member would start as Board Treasurer, and move up in officer title each year.

And, we are pleased to welcome to tonight's meeting Chief Gary Bresnehan as our guest speaker. Mr. Bresnehan serves as the Chief of Warrants, Screening & District Courts with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. He brings decades of experience in felony trials, appellate work, and district court operations, and currently oversees the review of more than 30,000 cases annually.

At our May meeting, Mr. Bresnehan will deliver an insightful presentation titled:

“From Charging Decisions to District Court Practice: A Prosecutor’s Perspective.”

He will share his perspective on how cases are reviewed, charged, and handled at the district court level, offering practical insight into the decision-making process on the prosecutor’s side. This presentation will provide valuable context for attorneys navigating criminal matters and interacting with the court system at its earliest stages.

This will be a great opportunity for attorneys at all levels to gain meaningful, real-world insight into district court practice and prosecutorial decision-making.

We look forward to a great evening of networking, food, drinks, and engaging discussion.
--
Sincerely,
Your Board of Directors:
Brian T. Berry - President
Hon Elizabeth DiSanto - Vice President
Krystle-Marie Medina - Secretary
Anthony S. Guerriero - Treasurer

DBA ELECTION - Treasurer Position OpeningThe Downriver Bar Association is currently seeking a new Board Member/Treasurer...
05/03/2026

DBA ELECTION - Treasurer Position Opening

The Downriver Bar Association is currently seeking a new Board Member/Treasurer. If you are interested in being part of the team, or if you would like to recommend a candidate, please reach out to a member of the Board.

The election for the position will be held at our May meeting.

📅 Wednesday, May 6, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Whiskeys on the Water

--
Sincerely,

Your Board of Directors:

Brian T. Berry - President
Hon Elizabeth DiSanto - Vice President
Krystle-Marie Medina - Secretary
Anthony S. Guerriero - Treasurer

MAY 2026 MEETING NEXT WEEK!May the 4th be with you. And if that doesn't work, join us two days later on May 6th for the ...
05/03/2026

MAY 2026 MEETING NEXT WEEK!

May the 4th be with you. And if that doesn't work, join us two days later on May 6th for the Downriver Bar Association May Meeting:

📅 Wednesday, May 6, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Whiskeys on the Water

We are pleased to welcome Chief Gary Bresnehan as our guest speaker.

Mr. Bresnehan serves as the Chief of Warrants, Screening & District Courts with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. He brings decades of experience in felony trials, appellate work, and district court operations, and currently oversees the review of more than 30,000 cases annually.

At our May meeting, Mr. Bresnehan will deliver an insightful presentation titled:

“From Charging Decisions to District Court Practice: A Prosecutor’s Perspective.”

He will share his perspective on how cases are reviewed, charged, and handled at the district court level, offering practical insight into the decision-making process on the prosecutor’s side. This presentation will provide valuable context for attorneys navigating criminal matters and interacting with the court system at its earliest stages.

This will be a great opportunity for attorneys at all levels to gain meaningful, real-world insight into district court practice and prosecutorial decision-making.

We look forward to a great evening of networking, food, drinks, and engaging discussion.

________________________________________________________________

DBA Treasurer Position Opening

The Downriver Bar Association is currently seeking a new Treasurer. If you are interested in being part of the team, or if you would like to recommend a candidate, please reach out to a member of the Board.

The position will be election will be held at our May meeting.

--
Sincerely,

Your Board of Directors:

Brian T. Berry - President
Hon Elizabeth DiSanto - Vice President
Krystle-Marie Medina - Secretary
Anthony S. Guerriero - Treasurer

Good afternoon, Downriver Bar Association members:You are cordially invited by The Incorporated Society of Irish America...
04/05/2026

Good afternoon, Downriver Bar Association members:

You are cordially invited by The Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers (ISIAL) to a special gathering with State Bar of Michigan President Lisa Hamameh.

This event will be held at Brewery Faisan, 1087 Beaufait, Detroit, MI 48207, on Wednesday, April 8 at 5:30pm, and is co-hosted by the Women’s Bar Association, Oakland Region of WLAM, and the South Asian Bar Association of Michigan (SABA Michigan).

Enjoy an evening of pizza, beer, and great company while connecting with colleagues from across the legal community.

Please RSVP using the link below so the hosts may plan accordingly for food and beverages.

https://irish-lawyers.org/upcoming-events/ #!event/2026/4/8/gathering-featuring-sbm-president-lisa-hamameh-co-hosted-by-isial-wba-oakland-and-saba

--
Sincerely,

Your Board of Directors:

Brian T. Berry - President
Hon Elizabeth DiSanto - Vice President
Krystle-Marie Medina - Secretary
Anthony S. Guerriero - Treasurer

We had a great meeting last night! Thank you to Judge Kathleen McCarthy for speaking on the topics of trial preparedness...
04/03/2026

We had a great meeting last night! Thank you to Judge Kathleen McCarthy for speaking on the topics of trial preparedness and persuasiveness.

We also thank attorney Robert Donald for making us aware of pro bono service opportunities through Lakeshore Legal Aid.

MEETING TONIGHT - NO FOOLING! - Even though it's April 1st 🙂We are looking forward to seeing you TONIGHT at the Downrive...
04/01/2026

MEETING TONIGHT - NO FOOLING! - Even though it's April 1st 🙂
We are looking forward to seeing you TONIGHT at the Downriver Bar Association April Meeting:

📅 Wednesday, April 1, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 Whiskey’s on the Water

We are honored to welcome our guest speaker, Hon. Kathleen M. McCarthy, who currently serves on the civil bench of the Wayne County Circuit Court (3rd Circuit Court). Judge McCarthy brings over two decades of judicial experience, including her time as Presiding Judge of the Family Division.

At tonight’s meeting, Judge McCarthy will present:
“Trial Readiness and Effective Persuasion Strategies.”

She will share practical insight on how attorneys can effectively prepare for trial and present their cases in a persuasive manner, offering a valuable perspective from the bench on what resonates with judges and how to strengthen advocacy in the courtroom.

This is a great opportunity for attorneys at all levels to gain meaningful, real-world insight while also connecting with colleagues in the legal community.

Important Note: The venue has informed us that the elevator is currently out of service and will not be available this evening. Access to the meeting space will require the use of stairs.

DBA Treasurer Position Opening: The Downriver Bar Association is currently seeking a new Treasurer. If you are interested in serving, or would like to recommend a candidate, please reach out to a member of the Board. The election will be held at our May meeting.

We look forward to an evening of networking, great conversation, valuable learning, and, of course, food and drinks.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Otherwise, we will see you this evening!
--
Sincerely,
Your Board of Directors:
Brian T. Berry - President
Hon Elizabeth DiSanto - Vice President
Krystle-Marie Medina - Secretary
Anthony S. Guerriero - Treasurer

Great meeting last night! Thank you Judge Cusick for your excellent discussion on the Michigan rules of evidence. It was...
03/06/2026

Great meeting last night! Thank you Judge Cusick for your excellent discussion on the Michigan rules of evidence. It was very helpful and very well received.

TONIGHT!!! MARCH MADNESS MEMBERSHIP MEETINGCelebrate March Madness with us TONIGHT, Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 5:30 p.m...
03/04/2026

TONIGHT!!! MARCH MADNESS MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Celebrate March Madness with us TONIGHT, Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.!

The Downriver Bar Association is pleased to invite you to our March Bar Association Meeting, featuring an informative presentation on evidence.

Our guest speaker, Hon. Paul John Cusick, will present a practical talk on evidence, including key considerations and takeaways for attorneys practicing in the Circuit and District Courts.

Hon. Paul John Cusick became a 3rd Circuit Court judge in November 2016. Since then, Judge Cusick has served on the bench in the 3rd Circuit Criminal Division, where he has presided over approximately 160 jury trials and 80 bench trials. He began his career as an assistant prosecuting attorney at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in 2007 in the Trials, Juvenile, and District Court Divisions. In 2011 he was appointed an assistant attorney general and worked in the Criminal Division. He handled homicide, criminal sexual conduct, welfare and election fraud, narcotics, and racketeering cases, among others.

Event Details
📅 Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
🕠 Time: 5:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Whiskey’s on the Water – 2903 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, MI

This fiscal year's annual membership pricing:
• $75 returning members
• $55 new members
• $45 new attorneys
• $25 students
• $20 drop-in fee for non-members

We hope you can join us for an engaging discussion, networking, and dinner. We look forward to seeing you.
--
Sincerely,
Your Board of Directors:
Brian T. Berry - President
Hon Elizabeth DiSanto - Vice President
Krystle-Marie Medina - Secretary
Anthony S. Guerriero - Treasurer

We had a great meeting last night. Thank you to our guest speaker, Erin Van Campen of the Neighborhood Defender Service ...
02/06/2026

We had a great meeting last night. Thank you to our guest speaker, Erin Van Campen of the Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit! She shared pending cases in the Michigan Supreme Court, and offered insight. She led a discussion of practical guidance for attorneys and judges practicing in the Circuit and District Courts.

MEETING TONIGHT – February 4, 2026!February Downriver Bar Association MeetingDear Members,We hope the new year is off to...
02/04/2026

MEETING TONIGHT – February 4, 2026!
February Downriver Bar Association Meeting

Dear Members,

We hope the new year is off to a great start for you. The Downriver Bar Association is pleased to invite you to our February Bar Association Meeting, featuring an informative and timely presentation on developments in the Michigan Supreme Court.

Our guest speaker, Erin Van Campen, will present “Up and Coming in the Michigan Supreme Court,” where she will discuss what is new at the Court, including an overview of criminal cases likely to be decided this term. Erin will also share key takeaways and practical insights for attorneys practicing in the Circuit and District Courts.

Erin Van Campen is the Research and Training Attorney at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit, where she provides on-call assistance to criminal defense attorneys handling assigned cases in Wayne County. She regularly trains attorneys on a variety of topics, recently presented the Wayne County Defender Training 2025 Case Law Update, and serves as adjunct faculty at Wayne State University Law School teaching Criminal Procedure.

Event Details
📅 Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
🕠 Time: 5:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Whiskey’s on the Water – 2903 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, MI

Annual membership pricing this year:
• $75 returning members
• $55 new members
• $45 new attorneys
• $25 students
• $20 drop-in fee for non-members per meeting

We hope you can join us for an engaging discussion, networking, and dinner. We look forward to seeing you on February 4.

Sincerely,
Your Board of Directors:
Brian T. Berry - President
Hon Elizabeth DiSanto - Vice President
Krystle-Marie Medina - Secretary
Anthony S. Guerriero - Treasurer

Address

13349 Reeck Court
Southgate, MI
48195

Telephone

+13136106047

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