Former US Attorneys
for the
Western District of Michigan
Frederick O. Rogers, 1863-1865
A.D. Griswold, 1865-1866
Link to the picture of: A.T. McReynolds, 1866-1867
A.D. Griswold, 1867-1869
Link to picture of: John H. Standish, 1869-1877
Mardsen C. Burch, 1877-1882
Link to the picture of: John W. Stone, 1882-1886
Link to the picture of: G. Chase Godwin, 1886-1890
G. Chase Godwin, was born April 18, 1840, in Wyoming Twp., Kent Co. He received his education in the district schools of Wyoming and the public schools of Grand Rapids. He studied of law in 1862 with Holmes & Champlain (John T. Holmes and John W. Champlain), in Grand Rapids, and was admitted to the bar of Kent County in 1865.
G. Chase Godwin was associated with Hon. John T. Holmes in the practice of law and he established the firm of Godwin & Earl in June 1879. Mr. Godwin was married in 1868 to Miss Cornelia Chambers of Wayland, Allegan Co.
Link to the picture of: Lewis G. Palmer, 1890-1894
(Much of what is written below was taken from an old newspaper article and re-written slightly to make it more understandable. The language may seem a bit odd, but this is how articles were written in the early 1900s.)
Lewis Gilbert Palmer of Big Rapids, Michigan had the reputation when practicing law, and when in the State Senate, of being one of the most eloquent and persuasive advocates.
Mr. Palmer was born September 17th 1851, in Herkimer County, NY. His father was Morgan Lewis Palmer. The son, Lewis G., received his general education in the public schools of Detroit, MI., and the Michigan Agricultural College at Lansing, MI.
In January, 1863 Mr. Palmer enlisted in th Michigan Provost Guard, and was regularly mustered into the United States service as a drummer boy at the age of eleven years and about four months. He served from then until the close of the war; was discharged at camp Blair in Jackson, MI. Mr. Palmer was without a doubt the youngest member of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) in the country, and the claim was made for him that he was the youngest Union Soldier to be found on the muster rolls of the nation. In this service he partook in the spirit that moved other members of his family, for his father and three brothers served in Michigan regiments, leaving only his mother and one sister at home.
Returning from the army, he was employed one year covering part of 1865 and 1866 as a messenger boy and clerk for Isadore Kauffman, merchant and clothier in Detroit; then attending school until 1868; then moved away from his family to Big Rapids, MI. He taught his first school in Meridian, Ingham County, MI in 1869; taught school for three years in Mecosta and Osceola Counties, MI; was then elected county Superintendent of schools for Mecosia County, MI and served in that capacity until the law; providing for such officials, was repealed. Mr Palmer was then elected Prosecuting Attorney of Mecosta County, MI and served three terms. He practiced law in Big Rapids, MI and vicinity until 1886, and was then elected to the State Senate, where he served two terms. In 1888 Mr. Palmer was appointed by Govenor Luce to represent the State of Michigan in an address at Marietta, OH and also at Columbus, Ohio to celebrate the Centennial of the founding of the Northwest Territory.
Mr. Palmer was appointed as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan in 1890 where he served until the end of his term in 1894. Mr. Palmer was reappointed as an interim Assitant United States Attorney to try important cases pending. He resumed the practice of law in the State and United States Courts until elected Circuit Judge for the Twenty-seventh Judicial Circuit for the unexpired term, succeeding his brother, the late Honorable John H. Palmer. He was elected for the full term of six years.
Among the measures introduced by Mr. Palmer when he was in the State Senate was the present Michigan marriage license law, and the law permitting prosecuting attorneys to appear and argue cases for the people before the Supreme Court. He championed many other important measures which became laws under his leadership and management. In politics he was always an unswerving Republican, voted first for U.S. Grant, and was a delegate to nearly every State Convention since he attained his majority.
Mr. Palmer was a Mason and a Knight of Pythias. He was married at Ravenna, Michigan on November 12, 1874, to Miss Una Rice. His children were Emily Una, Mollie, and Frank R. Palmer.
Link to the picture of: John Power, 1894-1898
John Power, of this review, immigrated to the United States in the year 1863, he being the first of the family to come to this country. He first located at New York, and there enlisted in the Seventeenth New York Volunteers. After the close of the Civil war, Mr. Power engaged in the work of teaching for four years, after which he took up the study of law. He was admitted to the Bar of the State of Michigan in 1872 and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1892. He entered upon the practice of his profession in 1872 and had been continuously engaged therein through the long intervening years to the present time, in 1911. In 1881 he located at Escanaba, Michigan, where, as well as throughout the state, he is recognized as a versatile trial lawyer and as a skilled and well fortified counselor. His clientele is of a general nature and he was prominently concerned in many important litigations in the State and Federal Courts. As a Democrat in politics, he was never aligned as a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party in the local and state councils of which he was a most active factor. He was village and City Attorney of Calumet and Escanaba for some fifteen years and was also prosecuting attorney of Keweenaw and Manitou counties.
In 1894 he was appointed United States Attorney for the Western district of Michigan, remaining incumbent of that position for over four years. He was candidate of his party for representative in Congress from the ninth, eleventh and twelfth Michigan districts on five different occasions but failed of election in the ensuing campaigns on account of the normal Republican majority in this section of the state, though always running ahead of his ticket. He was district delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1880, 1884 and 1892 and was delegate at large from Michigan to the National Convention of 1904. He was also the candidate of his party for elector at large of president and vice-president in 1888.
Mr. Power was a member and president of the Board of Education of Escanaba for ten years and was County Superintendent of schools. He was also secretary of the Board of School Examiners and in every possible way showed his interest in all things pertaining to the general advancement of educational matters in the old Wolverine State. He was a man of high ideals and generous impulses and was ever on the qui vive to do good in both a public and an individual way. In religion was always a Catholic and was intimately affiliated with that church; he was a man of many friends and his charity knew only the bounds of his opportunities. His intrinsic devotion and patriotism to the land of his adoption was shown by his gallant service, when not much more than a mere boy, as a soldier in the Union ranks in the Civil war. He enlisted as a private in Company A, Seventeenth New York Infantry in May, 1863, and after participating in many important conflicts marking the progress of the war, including the memorable march of Sherman's army to the sea, he was mustered out of service on the 19th of June, 1865. Mr. Power retained a deep and abiding interest in his old comrades in arms and signified the same by membership in the C. F. Smith Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he was Post Commander. He was also affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, in which he was grand knight for nine years.
On the 30th of September, 1868, at Cliff, Michigan, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Power to Miss Elizabeth Corgan, who was a daughter of Charles and Mary Corgan, the former of whom was in the service of the United States light-house establishment on the Great Lakes for fully thirty years. Mrs. Power received an excellent education in her youth and was a woman of the utmost graciousness and refinement.
Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Power, the following brief data are here incorporated:
Walter J. Power, who was born at Copper Harbor, Michigan, March 30, 1870, was a lawyer and a mining operator, with business headquarters at Hibbing, Minnesota. He married Miss Dottie O'Connell. Catherine was also a resident of Hibbing, Minnesota.
Patrick S., who was engaged in the practice of law at Menominee, Michigan, married Miss Nina Doton, Escanaba, Michigan.
May Frances, of Chicago, Illinois, was also married.
Roscoe B. was a dentist at Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Matthew L., who was a doctor, and was engaged in the practice of his profession at Hancock, Michigan.
Victor L. was a prominent lawyer at Hibbing, Minnesota.
Patricia, who was the wife of George Wink, resided in Sioux City, Iowa.
George G. Covell, 1898-1910
Link to the picture of: Fred C. Wetmore, 1910-1914
Born: Rock Island, IL; University of Michigan, L.L.B., 1891; Senator, MI, 1907-1911; United States Attorney, Western District, 1910-1913; 1937; died 1953.
Link to the picture of: Edward J. Bowman, 1914
Link to the picture of: Myron Walker, 1914-1922
Link to the picture of: Edward J. Bowman, 1922-1930
Link to the picture of: Fred C. Wetmore, 1930-1933
Born: Rock Island, IL; University of Michigan, L.L.B., 1891; Senator, MI, 1907-1911; United States Attorney, Western District, 1910-1913; 1937; died 1953.
Link to the picture of: Joseph M. Donnelly, 1933-1937
Born: Ontonagon County, MI; St. Thomas Military Academy, H.S. & College Prep); University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, L.L.B. 1920; Ontonagon Probate Judge 1920-1927 and 1930-1932; United States Attorney, Western District, 1933-1937; deceased.
Link to the Picture of: Fred C. Wetmore, 1937
Born: Rock Island, IL; University of Michigan, L.L.B., 1891; Senator, MI, 1907-1911; United States Attorney, Western District, 1910-1913; 1937; died 1953.
Link to the picture of: Francis T. McDonald, 1937-1940
Born: Brockport, NY; University of Michigan Law School, 1899; City Attorney; Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, MI; U.S. Attorney for the Western District, 1937-1940; deceased.
Link to the picture of: Joseph F. Deeb, 1940-1953
Joseph F. Deeb was one of the youngest U.S. Attorneys to serve in West Michigan. Appointed as Acting U.S. Attorney to replace Francis T. McDonald in 1940, Deeb became the youngest U.S. Attorney in the country. When he left office in 1953, he was the longest serving U.S. Attorney in the District's history. In handling one of the many crises a U.S. Attorney faces, he became one of the most controversial.
Link to the picture of: Wendell A. Miles, 1953-1960
Born: Holland, MI; Hope College, B.A., 1938; Wyoming State University, M.A., 1939; University of Michigan Law School, 1942; Ottawa County Prosecutor 1949-1953; United States Attorney, Western District, 1953-1960; Federal Judge, 1974-present.
Link to the picture of: Robert J. Danhof, 1960-1961
Born: Grand Rapids, MI; Zeeland Public Schools; Hope College, B.A.; University of Michigan, J.D.; Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1953-1960; United States Attorney, Western District, 1960-1961; Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals 2nd District, 1969; Chief Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals 2nd District, 1976; Michigan Judges Association; President 1978.
Link to the picture of: George E. Hill, 1961-1964
Born: Christopher, IL; University of Illinois, B.A., 1947; J.D. 1947; United States Attorney, Western District, 1961-1964; Judge, 96th District of Michigan, 1969-1975.
Link to the picture of: Robert G. Quinn, Jr. 1964-1965
Catholic Central High School, Grand Rapids, MI; University of Michigan, B.A., 1948; J.D., 1954; Assistant U.S. Attorney, Western District, 1961-1964; United States Attorney, Western District, 1964-1965.
Link to the picture of: Harold D. Beaton, 1965-1969
Born: Lapeer City, MI; Marquette University, B.A., 1933; Assistant to former Governor and U.S. Attorney General Frank Murphy; three years in U.S. Army during WWII; Legislative Assistant to Senator McNamara, October, 1956; deceased.
Link to the picture of: John P. Milanowski, 1969-1974
Born: Grand Rapids, MI; Catholic Central High School, Grand Rapids, MI; Western Michigan University, 1942; Catholic University of America, J.D. 1949; Administrative Aid, Congressman Gerald R. Ford 1949-1954; United States Attorney, Western District, 1969-1974; Probate Judge, Kent County, MI, 1976-1979; died 1988.
Link to the picture of: Frank Spies, 1974-1977
Born: Adrian, MI; Adrian H.S., 1957; University of Michigan, B.B.A., 1961, University of Michigan School of Law, L.L.B., 1964; Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1969-1976; U.S. Attorney, Western District, 1976-1977.
Link to the picture of: James S. Brady, 1977-1981
Born: Grand Rapids, MI; Western Michigan University, B.S., 1966; University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1969; United States Attorney, Western District, 1977-1981.
Link to the picture of: Robert C. Greene, 1981
Saugatuck H.S., Saugatuck, MI, 1960; American University, 1960-1963; American University of Washington College of Law, J.D., 1966; Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1971-1982; U.S. Attorney, Western District, May - October, 1981.
Link to the picture of: John A. Smietanka, 1981-1993
Born: Chicago, IL; Seminary System of Oblets of Mary Immaculate, Pass Christian, MS., B.A.; John Marshall Law School, J.D.; Berrien County Prosecutor, 1974-1981; United States Attorney, Western District, 1981-1993; Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, 1990-1992; Assistant to the Attorney General 1991-1992.
Link to the picture of Thomas J. Gezon (interim, 1993)
Born: Grand Rapids, MI 1949; Calvin College, BA 1971; Valparaiso University School of Law, JD 1974; Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Berrien County, MI 1974 - 1981; Assistant United States Attorney, US Attorney's Office (USAO), Western District of Michigan 1981 - 1982; First Assistant US Attorney 1982 - 1993; Interim US Attorney 1993, Assistant US Attorney 1993 - 2007.
Mr. Gezon retired from the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan on February 27, 2007. Following his retirement, Mr. Gezon partnered with his former boss, and former United States Attorney, John A. Smietanka at the law firm of Smietanka, Buckleitner, Steffes and Gezon.
Link to the picture of: Michael H. Dettmer, 1993 -2001
Mr. Michael Dettmer is a graduate of Michigan State University and received his law degree from the Wayne State University School of Law in 1971. Mr. Dettmer has been a trial lawyer since 1972, specializing in civil litigation and he served as the 59th President of the State Bar in Michigan in 1993 and 1994. Mr. Dettmer was appointed as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan by President Bill Clinton in 1993, and served as the US Attorney until 2001.
Link to the picture of Phillip J. Green (interim, 2001 - 2002)
Born: Denver, Colorado, 1956; United States Navy, 1974-1976; St. Meinrad College, B.A., 1982; St. Louis University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1990; Law Clerk, Honorable Theodore McMillian, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1990-1991; Honors Program Trial Attorney, United States Department of Justice, Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch, 1991-1994, 1995-1998; Associate, Bryan Cave, LLP, 1994-95; Assistant United States Attorney (Deputy Criminal Chief), United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan, 1998-2001; United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan (interim appointment), 2001-2002; First Assistant United States Attorney, Western District of Michigan, 2002-present.
Link to the picture of Margaret Mary Chiara, 2001 - 2007
Born: Brooklyn, New York. 1943. Ms. Chiara was associated with a private law firm in rural Cass County, Michigan before becoming a twice elected Cass County Prosecutor. Ms Chiara was the first and only woman elected to serve as president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM).
Law was Ms. Chiara's second career. For twelve years she was a teacher and educational administrator. Interest in education law and school finance reform led to Rutgers Law School. She has a masters in administration from Pace University and her undergraduate degree is from Fordham University.
Ms. Margaret Mary Chiara was nominated to the position of United States Attorney by President George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, and was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on October 23, 2001, as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.
Ms. Chiara resigned her position as United States Attorney effective March 16, 2007.
Link to the picture of Brian K. Delaney, (interim, 2007)
Brian K. Delaney served as the interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan from March until mid-April, 2007 when he was succeeded by Charles R. Gross. Mr. Delaney succeeded Margaret Chiara, who resigned on March 16, 2007, and he and Mr. Gross served on an interim basis until a United States Attorney is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Mr. Delaney has served as Criminal Chief in the Western District of Michigan since January 2006 and has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the district since October 1989. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Delaney served as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation from November 1983 to October 1989. As a Special Agent with the FBI, Mr. Delaney served in various capacities, including as a Field Agent in the Dallas and Washington Field Offices. In 1986, he was detailed to serve as an attorney–investigator for the Office of the Independent Counsel under Judge Lawrence Walsh. In 1987, Mr. Delaney served as a Special Agent Attorney assigned to the Legal Counsel Division at FBI Headquarters, where he provided legal oversight of the FBI’s criminal and civil forfeiture programs. From August 1982 to August 1983, he was in private practice at the Chicago firm of Stone, Pogrund, and Korey.
Mr. Delaney graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle with a degree in Criminal Justice and received his law degree from DePaul University College of Law.
Link to the picture of Charles R. Gross (interim, 2007- 2008)
Mr. Charles R. Gross served as the interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan from mid-April 2007 until October 26, 2008 when he was succeeded by Mr. Donald A. Davis after Mr. Gross accepted a permanent position with the Department of Justice in Washington D.C.
Mr. Gross succeeded Interim United States Attorney Mr. Brian K. Delaney, who also succeeded former United States Attorney Margaret M. Chiara, who resigned on March 16, 2007. Mr. Gross served on an interim basis until Mr. Davis was selected by Chief U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney.
Mr. Gross served on active duty with the United States Marine Corps, where he held the rank of colonel. He was recalled to active duty in June 2006 for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and from August 2006 to February 2007, he served as the principal U.S. military liaison between the governor of Anbar Province, Iraq and coalition forces.
From January 2005 to June 2006, Mr. Gross served as the First Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Michigan.
From November 2004 to December 2005, Mr. Gross served on detail to the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility as an Assistant Counsel.
From June 1999 to October 2004, Mr. Gross served as the Civil Chief in the Western District of Michigan, and from March 1990 to May 1999, he served as an Assistant Branch Director of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
From July 1989 to February 1990, Mr. Gross was an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Arizona, following his service from August 1985 to June 1989 as a Trial Attorney in the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
From August 1978 to July 1985, Mr. Gross served as an active-duty judge advocate in the United States Marine Corps, where he handled the prosecution and defense of courts-martial, civil litigation support, and operational law matters.
Mr. Gross is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, with a degree in Mathematics. He received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
This web page last updated on: March 16, 2009