MEET KERENE
Kerene Moore is a lifelong Southeast Michigan resident with well-rounded experience from both behind the bench and as an attorney representing vulnerable community members. After growing up in a working-class home in Detroit, Kerene earned both her bachelor’s degree and her Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan. Kerene’s commitment to equity and fairness is rooted in the lessons and experiences of her youth, and she has dedicated her professional career to ensuring that all community members can fairly access the justice system.
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After graduating law school, Kerene went right to work in public service. She currently serves as the Director of Conviction Integrity and Expungement at the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office, and previously served in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court as a judicial attorney and juvenile referee. She started her legal career in 2007 as an attorney for the Michigan Advocacy Program/Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) where, for over 12 years, she represented hundreds of clients in district court cases, helping them maintain housing, resolve outstanding financial and legal issues, and exit vulnerable situations. Simultaneously, Kerene founded an award-winning project with Michigan Law students to enforce the Supreme Court’s landmark marriage equality decisions, which she continues to supervise to this day. After leaving the LSSCM, Kerene worked as an attorney for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, where she investigated, and successfully conciliated several discrimination claims. In these roles, Kerene worked alongside her colleagues to ensure fair access to justice—and she’s now ready to bring her years of expertise to Ann Arbor’s 15th District Court.
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Kerene knows just how badly we need progressive values on the bench. She is running to amplify diverse perspectives in the courtroom, deliver on progressive reforms to our civil and criminal justice systems, ensure that our courts are accessible, efficient, and fair for residents of all backgrounds, and continue development of treatment court services. She is running so that Ann Arbor’s District Court reflects Ann Arbor’s values: equity, inclusivity, and justice. Kerene believes that we have a responsibility to support Michiganders in securing well-paying jobs, affordable housing and healthcare, and meaningful retirement benefits—not to mention promoting equal justice for all, environmental responsibility, and protecting our democracy. She has carried these values with her throughout her career, and if elected, she will bring this important background with her to the bench.
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In addition to her professional experience, Kerene has played an active role in both community-based and statewide organizations. She served a four year term on the Ann Arbor District Library Board of Trustees. She has also served on the boards of the Jim Toy Community Center, Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission, Neutral Zone, Equality Michigan, and the LGBTQ+ Law Section of the State Bar. Finally, she is an established leader in the legal field, regularly sharing her expertise as both a speaker and author on issues such as bail reform, LGBTQ+ rights, and domestic violence. Kerene lives with her spouse, children, dog, and two cats in Ann Arbor.
