Hon. Shalina D. Kumar is a district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She was nominated by President Joe Biden on July 13, 2021, and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 17, 2021. Kumar, who filled the seat vacated by the Hon. Victoria A. Roberts, holds the distinction of being the first Indian-American to become a federal judge in Michigan.
Prior to joining the federal bench, she presided as a judge for the Sixth Circuit Court in Oakland County, a position in which she was appointed by former Governor Jennifer Granholm in August 2007. During her tenure there, Kumar was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve as the court's Chief Judge in 2018 and reappointed in 2020. She also served as presiding judge of the Adult Treatment Court and presided over civil and criminal matters.
Before beginning her judicial career, Kumar was an associate at Weiner & Cox, P.L.C. (2004 to 2007) and Sommers, Schwartz, Silver & Schwartz, P.C. (2000 to 2004). She entered private practice in 1997.
Kumar received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1993. She went on to complete a J.D. at the University of Detroit, Mercy School of Law in 1996.
Her memberships have included the Oakland County Bar Association, the Michigan Association for Justice, the South Asian Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association.
Kumar also served on the Oakland County Criminal Assignment Committee (chairperson), the Oakland County Bar Association Circuit Court Committee (bench liaison), the Michigan State Bar Professionalism Committee, and the Michigan Judges Association Executive Committee.