Judge Daniel P. O’Brien: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. Daniel P. O’Brien is a judge for the Sixth Circuit Court of Michigan in Oakland County. He was elected to the bench on November 5, 2002.

During his judicial tenure, O’Brien has presided over the Civil/Criminal and Family Divisions.

Prior to his election, he had worked as a private practice attorney since 1998. During that same time, O’Brien served as an assistant municipal attorney and an assistant city attorney for local communities in Oakland County (1998 to 2000). Before entering private practice, he was a research attorney with the Oakland County Circuit Court (1995 to 1998).

O’Brien received an associate’s degree from Oakland Community College (1988) and a B.S. from the University of Detroit Business School (1990). He went on to complete a J.D. at the University of Detroit, Mercy School of Law in 1994. While a law student, O’Brien served as a law clerk for the Hon. Daniel Sawicki with the Forty-Fourth District Court and the Hon. Francis X. O’Brien with the Oakland County Circuit Court (1991 to 1994).

After graduating from law school, he began his legal career as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney in Oakland County (1994 to 1995).

His memberships have included the South Oakland Bar Association and the Catholic Lawyers. O’Brien has sat on the Royal Oak Zoning Board of Appeals, the Circuit Court Criminal Assignment Committee, the Oakland County Bar Association Circuit Court Committee (Bench Liaison), and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Professionalism Advisory Committee.

He has also been involved with Gianna House and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

O’Brien was named Outstanding Alumnus by the Oakland Community College in 2010.