JUNE 15 • 2023 | 41

Judge Marla Parker accepts the Avern Cohn Lifetime Achievement Award from her longtime friend Judge Michelle Friedman Appel. Judge Appel 
noted that as teens, she was the president of her BBG group while Marla was the president of the entire Michigan B’nai B’rith Youth Organization.

 “ANYONE WHO HAS EVER INTERACTED 
WITH MARLA HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNI-
TY TO EXPERIENCE THE INFINITE NATURE 
OF HER KINDNESS, JOY, COMPASSION AND 
THOUGHTFULNESS … THE COURAGE THAT 
SHE HAS EXHIBITED ALONG WITH THE SKILL 
WITH WHICH SHE HAS EXECUTED ALL SHE 
HAS ACHIEVED MAKES HER THE PERFECT 
RECIPIENT OF THIS AWARD.”

— JUDGE MICHELLE FRIEDMAN APPEL

LEFT: Judge Marla Parker rejoins her daughter Jill and husband, Brad, after accepting her award. Judge Parker, who has served for 30 years 
on the 47th District Court bench in Farmington/Farmington Hills, quipped that she is the youngest person as well as first woman to win JBAM’s 
lifetime achievement award. When her current term expires in 2029, she will have served 36 years. In accepting the award, she said, “The law is 
about people, and everything we do affects people’s lives, directly or indirectly, and we have such an opportunity to make a difference.”

Judge Jamie Wittenberg remained on the bench while 
bravely battling brain cancer for three-and-a-half years. 
He and Staci have four teenage daughters, Ariel, Talia, 
Maya and Brooke. Judge Wittenberg was extremely 
dedicated to his wife and daughters. “Jamie was the 
ultimate girl dad,” said Judge Derek Meinecke.

CBS DETROIT

“JAMIE NEVER GAVE UP ON 
ANY CHALLENGE IN HIS LIFE. 
ALONG WITH HIS STRENGTH 
AND DETERMINATION, OUR 
DAUGHTERS AND I CAN FIND HIS 
VOICE IN EVERYTHING WE DO.”

— STACI WITTENBERG

Judge Wittenberg’s wife, Staci, 
said JBAM’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
Champion of Justice Award “is 
truly fitting for Jamie because 
he was a champion of all people. 
Jamie treated everyone equally. 
He demonstrated firmness, under-
standing, common sense and, most 
of all, humility. I’ve heard wonder-
ful stories about Jamie in the court. 
Working in the court is what kept 
Jamie going after his diagnosis, 
along with fighting for the girls and 
me.” She said her family is forev-
er grateful for the friendship and 
moral support received from his 
bench mate Judge Derek Meinecke 
during Jamie’s battle with cancer.

continued on page 42

