Eli Savit

Background

About Eli Savit

Eli Savit is an attorney, a law professor, and a former public school teacher, who is currently serving as the elected Prosecuting Attorney for Washtenaw County, MI. His areas of expertise include appellate and Supreme Court litigation; civil rights; education law; and environmental law. Prior to taking office, Savit served as senior advisor and legal counsel at the City of Detroit. As senior advisor, Savit oversaw a policy portfolio encompassing consumer protection, education, environmental justice, and public safety. As senior legal counsel, Savit advised Mayor Mike Duggan on legal issues concerning the City and its executive branch. Working with the city's Law Department, Savit also directed and litigated public-interest cases on behalf of the City of Detroit. Prior to his appointment by Mayor Duggan, Savit was a law clerk on the U.S. Supreme Court for Justices Sandra Day O'Connor (ret.) and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He also practiced law at two major national firms, focusing on appellate and Supreme Court litigation. He started his career as a public school teacher, teaching special-education and general-education 8th grade American history courses. While in private practice, Savit dedicated significant time to pro bono. Among other clients, he represented children with disabilities, victims of consumer fraud, and asylum applicants fleeing domestic violence and spousal abuse. Savit currently maintains an appointment at the University of Michigan Law School. In his academic capacity, he has published scholarly articles on topics such as educational equity, campaign-finance reform, and environmental law. His work has also been published in such popular publications as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Slate, USA Today, the Hill, the Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, and MLive. In addition, Savit delivers lectures on legal topics to bar associations, community groups, and educational organizations.