ADB Members

The six lawyer members and three non-lawyer members appointed to the Attorney Discipline Board by the Michigan Supreme Court perform, among other things, the functions of an appellate tribunal after a matter has been adjudicated by a hearing panel. The Supreme Court shall designate from among the members of the Board a chairperson and a vice-chairperson who shall serve 1-year terms in those offices. The Supreme Court may reappoint these officers for additional terms and may remove an officer prior to the expiration of a term. An officer appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy shall serve the remainder of that term and may be reappointed to serve two full terms. [Michigan Court Rule 9.110(C).]

Further information on the Role of Board Members

Board Members

Current Term October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022

Michael B. Rizik, Jr.
Chairperson
Grand Blanc, MI

Term Expires: September 30, 2022

Mr. Michael B. Rizik was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in November 1981, and practices law with his brother, George F. Rizik, II, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. His law practice focuses on commercial transactions and litigation, family law, and serious personal injury cases and wrongful death litigation. He is a former Trustee of the Michigan Bar Foundation, and was a member of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Board of Directors from 1997-2011, serving as Chair of the Investment and Strategic Planning Committees, as well as on the Executive and Nominating Committees.

Mr. Rizik has a Masters of Science in Finance from Walsh College, a J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Nazareth Catholic College, and has served as a Special Lecturer at Michigan State University’s School of Labor and Industrial Relations Labor Program. He has written several articles on substantive legal topics, has been a member of various statewide and county bar associations, and is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Claims, and the state and federal courts in Michigan.

Mr. Rizik was appointed by the Supreme Court to a three-year term on the Attorney Discipline Board ending September 30, 2019 and reappointed to a second three-year term ending September 30, 2022. The Court also appointed him to two one-year terms as Vice-Chairperson commencing October 1, 2019, and as Chairperson for a one-year term commencing October 1, 2021.

Linda S. Hotchkiss M.D.
Vice-Chairperson
Lansing, MI

Term Expires: September 30, 2023

Dr. Linda S. Hotchkiss is a Board Certified Psychiatrist. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard College, and her MD degree from Harvard Medical School and is a Member of the American College of Psychiatry. After completing her training in psychiatry in Detroit, she worked in and then led the Department of Psychiatry of the former Sinai Hospital of Detroit, now part the DMC system as Sinai-Grace Hospital. Over her career, she has focused on medical education for physicians in training and practicing physicians, and improving quality and safety in patient care.

She has served in a number of different leadership roles, including Assistant Professor (Clinical), and Associate Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University School of Medicine; Associate Dean, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Milwaukee Campus; and Chairperson of the State of Michigan Board of Medicine. She currently champions the implementation of evidence based medicine through her work with physicians as the Managing Medical Director for Midwest states for Anthem, Inc. (known as Blue Cross Blue Shield or Empire in some states) Medicare Advantage. She also provides clinical consultations for individuals, colleagues and companies.

She currently lives in the Lansing area and is married to the former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Robert P. Young, Jr. Dr. Hotchkiss served on the Attorney Discipline Board from 1988 to 1994. She was appointed by the Supreme Court to serve again as a layperson member of the Board for a term ending September 30, 2020 and reappointed to a second three-year term ending September 30, 2023. The Court also appointed her to a one-year term as Vice-Chairperson commencing October 1, 2021.

Prues
Rev. Dr. Louis Prues
Secretary
St. Clair Shores, MI

Term Expires: September 30, 2024

Dr. Prues is an ordained Presbyterian clergyman, and has served as Parish Associate at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church for the past 27 years. Dr. Prues attended the University of Cincinnati where he earned a BA and an MBA in marketing and financial management. He received his Master of Divinity from Dubuque Theological Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministries and PhD from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Dr. Prues has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and Drake University, where he lectured on adolescent development, faith formation, marriage and family.

Dr. Prues has served in a number of different roles, including as a member of the State Committee on Health Services, the Board of Nursing, the Technology and Strategic Planning Team for the Grosse Pointe Public Schools, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for the Affordable Homes in Detroit, the Detroit steering committee for Share Our Strength, and as a public member of the Michigan Board of Medicine, where he served two years as Vice-Chair. Additionally, Dr. Prues has been appointed to three national Task Forces of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), and most recently was appointed to a national workgroup that will develop recommendations to the Federal government and State medical boards mandating the use of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in combating the ongoing opioid epidemic. He is also currently serving on the FSMB study group researching the role of Artificial Intelligence and Medicine, and chairs the sub committee on ethical considerations.

Dr. Prues retired from Lutheran Social Services of Michigan (now Samaritas) in 2015, after having served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Leadership Development since 1993. Under his leadership, Samaritas became the largest faith-based social service agency in Michigan employing over 2,500 persons with a services budget of approximately $120 million. Presently he is serving as a consultant to numerous community organizations striving to provide affordable housing for veterans and seniors.

Dr. Prues was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve as a public member of the Attorney Discipline Board for a three-year term, ending September 30, 2024.

Karen D. O'Donoghue
Board Member
Detroit, MI

Term Expires: September 30, 2022

Ms. Karen D. O’Donoghue is a partner in Taktix Solutions LLC, an independent advisory firm formed in 2002 to evaluate, structure and implement real estate development projects from concept through completion. Financial advisory and facility development assignments have included public and private educational, commercial, residential, retail, and office projects.

She has more than thirty years experience in finance, marketing and real estate development, having served as the Executive Vice President of a global telecommunications networking company, and as Executive Vice President of Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the lead agency for attracting private investment and analyzing the economic benefits of commercial, industrial and public infrastructure improvements to the City of Detroit. Her leadership resulted in billions of dollars of public and private investment, including the $600 million Major League Baseball and National Football Stadia complex, $900 million Compuware Headquarters/Campus Martius Development, and numerous residential, office and manufacturing facilities.

Ms. O’Donoghue is a member of CREW Network and Women in Public Finance, and has served on several boards and committees, including Hutzel Hospital, Greater Detroit Area Health Council, Michigan Bankers Association, National Bankers Association Trust Committee, YMCA Board and Finance Committee, U of D High School Finance Committee, Greater Detroit Chamber Technology Innovation Committee and Michigan Economic Development Corporation Advisory Board. She has a BS degree in Business Administration and Finance from Wayne State University and is a registered Municipal Advisor.

Ms. O’Donoghue was appointed by the Supreme Court to a three-year term on the Attorney Discipline Board ending September 30, 2019 and to a second three-year term ending September 30, 2022.

Michael S. Hohauser
Board Member
Troy, MI

Term Expires: September 30, 2022

Mr. Hohauser is a principal at the law firm of Hohauser Kuchon in Troy. Mr. Hohauser has over 40 years of experience representing injury victims over a broad range of cases, from automobile negligence through medical malpractice. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1969, and obtained his law degree from Detroit College of Law in 1974.

Mr. Hohauser is an active member of the Oakland County Bar Association, where he has served on the elected board of directors, in addition to serving as secretary, treasurer, president-elect and president. He is also an active member of the State Bar of Michigan, where he served as a Commissioner for nine years. Mr. Hohauser regularly contributes to legal publications and has received numerous awards honoring his contributions to the legal profession. He was appointed as a member of the Attorney Discipline Board for a three-year term commencing on October 1, 2019.

Smit
Peter A. Smit
Board Member
Grand Rapids, MI

Term Expires: September 30, 2024

Mr. Smit is a partner in the Grand Rapids office of the Varnum law firm, and if a member of the Personal Injury Practice Team. His practice focuses on business litigation defense (FSLA, Product Liability Defense, Malpractice Defense) as well as significant experience in personal injury, wrongful death, and auto and trucking litigation.

Among his various honors and recognitions is a listing in Best Lawyers in America, Litigation, Banking & Finance; Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; since 2013. Peter is certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution for practice in the U.S. District Court for Western District of Michigan and in Michigan circuit courts. Mr. Smit was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to the Attorney Discipline Board to fill a vacancy for the remainder of a term ending September 30, 2021, and was then appointed to a three-year term ending September 30, 2024.

Orlans
Linda M. Orlans
Board Member
Troy, MI

Term Expires: September 30, 2023

Linda Orlans is the founding partner of Orlans PC, a multi-state law firm focused on real estate law. Ms. Orlans has founded or acquired numerous companies in the legal, real estate, and title industries. As a pioneer in making legal services more affordable and accessible, she implemented lean practices and innovative approaches to the practice of law. Under her leadership, the law firm has achieved numerous awards in the financial services industry including the Diamond Award of Excellence from America's Mortgage Banking Attorneys for 12 consecutive years and continues to add to its jurisdictions and areas of practice.

Ms. Orlans is a Trustee at Michigan State College of Law, where she has served as a Chair of the Board and has been recognized as The George Bashara Distinguished Alumni of the Year award. Orlans founded Women Executives in Banking and was the first woman to be appointed designated counsel for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. She has been appointed Trustee for the State Building Authority, State of Michigan and is a member of International Women's Forum.

A long-term champion for Detroit, her extensive community involvement includes leadership roles with the Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Opera Theatre, Junior Achievement, THAW and Beyond Basics. She has been recognized and received numerous awards as Business Leader of the Year from Northwood University, Winning Futures, D Business and as the Birmingham Community Social Impact Leader. She has recently been appointed a 2021 Fellow at Harvard University's ALI and will work with the leadership at MIT and Harvard to help improve access to social justice.

Ms. Orlans was appointed by the Supreme Court to a three-year term on the Attorney Discipline Board ending September 30, 2023.

Gershel
Alan Gershel
Board Member
West Bloomfield, MI

Term Expires: September 30, 2023

Alan Gershel graduated Northeastern University in 1974 with a B.A in criminal justice, Indiana State University in 1975 with an M.S in criminology and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1978. From 1980 until 2008 he was as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Detroit where he served as the Chief of the Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney and was twice appointed the Interim United States Attorney. He has also served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division for the United States Department of Justice. From 2008 until 2014 he was a professor at the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School where he taught criminal law, criminal procedure, white collar crime and evidence. He has served as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. In 2014 he was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court as the Grievance Administrator for the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission where he served until his retirement in 2019.

Mr. Gershel was recently appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to the Attorney Discipline Board for a three-year term ending September 30, 2023.

Turkish
Jason M. Turkish
Board Member
Southfield, MI

Jason Turkish is the President and Managing Partner of Nyman Turkish PC, a nationwide litigation and disability law firm with offices in California, Florida, and Michigan. Legally blind since birth, Mr. Turkish’s ability to overcome adversity to represent those who need a powerful advocate has resulted in a proven track record of success in fighting for the rights of the disabled.

Mr. Turkish has handled many complex and high-profile cases in both state and federal court, including reaching a landmark settlement with the Law School Admission Council that will result in changes to the way blind law school applicants are tested. His experience also includes obtaining a consent decree against the State of Michigan to guarantee equal access to absentee voting for the blind and twice successfully suing the Detroit Metro Airport to improve safety for individuals with disabilities who use public transportation services. In addition to complex civil rights litigation, Mr. Turkish also manages his firm’s Social Security practice, each year representing the rights of thousands of Social Security Disability claimants nationwide.

Mr. Turkish has also been selected to serve on numerous boards and committees both inside and outside of the legal profession. He is a member of the Stabenow-Peters Judicial Advisory Committee for the Eastern District of Michigan (charged with recommending candidates to the Senators for the federal bench and Office of United States Attorney for nomination by the President of the United States), and he is a former Gubernatorial Appointee and Chair of the Michigan Barrier Free Design Board, which enforces accessibility standards for businesses and public entities throughout the State of Michigan. Mr. Turkish is also a frequent lecturer on disability law and policy.

Before joining Nyman Turkish PC, Mr. Turkish completed his legal training at the Northwestern University School of Law, where he graduated with honors. Throughout his time in law school, he worked as an extern with then attorney and advocate Richard Bernstein, now an Associate Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Prior to law school, Mr. Turkish earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Mr. Turkish was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve as an attorney member of the Attorney Discipline Board for a three-year term, ending September 30, 2024.