Matthew DePerno Abandons Bid for Michigan Supreme Court
On the eve of the Michigan Republican Party state convention which was scheduled for Saturday in Flint, a surprising twist took place as renowned Attorney Matthew DePerno withdrew his candidacy for the Supreme Court seat. The convention was slated to choose party nominees for three Michigan university boards, the State Board of Education, and notably, for the Michigan Supreme Court.
Convention’s Developments and Conflicts
Two major contenders appeared in the race for the Supreme Court following DePerno’s withdrawal. Andrew Fink, a state representative from Hillsdale, was chosen to run for an eight-year term in the Supreme Court, while Branch County Circuit Judge Patrick O’Grady was selected to run for a partial four-year term.
Throughout the convention, tensions ran high. There were notably contentious moments throughout the day including when former Michigan Republican Party Chair – Kristina Karamo – was escorted out by police. Karamo, who was there to show support for a candidate, insisted that her eviction by “thugs” was uncalled for because she wasn’t causing any disruption.
She was countered by party chair, Pete Hoekstra, who mentioned that Karamo was not a registered delegate and declined a guest pass that would have allowed her to observe the proceedings from the gallery.
Cogent Reasons for DePerno’s Withdrawal
In an email sent to delegates late on Friday, DePerno outlined his reasons for stepping down from the competition for the four-year term on the court; a race which would have put him up against incumbent Justice Kyra Harris Bolden.
He wrote, “I’ve come to the conclusion that I can best help President Trump win Michigan by making sure that we have the strongest absentee and early vote program anywhere in the country – stronger than the Democrats.”
He further stated that his decision was meant to help push the Republican’s goals beyond what they’ve achieved in the past and requested delegates to carefully reflect on the best possible candidate for the November ballot.
Endorsements and Financial Perspective
After withdrawing, DePerno threw his support behind O’Grady for the term he was initially campaigning for and joined former President Trump in endorsing Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Mark Boonstra for the full eight-year term.
Campaign financial records, however, showed that DePerno had raised a little over $100 for his Supreme Court campaign, which fell significantly short of what the other candidates had raised.
Pending Legal Issues
DePerno first gained notoriety through his unsuccessful lawsuit that falsely claimed election results in Michigan’s Antrim County were manipulated through vote-counting equipment to favor President Joe Biden and harm Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 election. He is currently awaiting trial on felony charges related to alleged breaches of election machines.
Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER
NOVI STAFF WRITER The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
