Milton J. Miller
Encyclopedia
Milton J. Miller (1912 – March 6, 2007) was a business lawyer
from Detroit
, Michigan
and co-founder of the law firm
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn
.
in 1912 to immigrant parents. He grew up in Detroit and graduated from Detroit Central High School, the first public high school
established in Detroit and in Michigan. During his time at Detroit Central, he met his future wife, Jeanette Rabinowitz. He graduated from the University of Michigan
with an undergraduate degree
in 1933. Two years later, in 1935, he graduated, with honors, from the University of Michigan Law School
with a law degree / Juris Doctor
.
, he formed a law firm what is known today as Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn
. The firm has been headquartered in the First National Building
since its founding, which is located in the heart of downtown Detroit directly facing Campus Martius Park
.
In practice, he was primarily a business lawyer. In addition to his business practice, he also headed the firm’s matrimonial / family law
group. As a family law practitioner, he represented many of Detroit’s social elite, including Henry Ford II
in his divorce from Christina Ford in 1980.
He was a life-long member of the State Bar of Michigan
as well as the International Society of Barristers
.
player even up to the time of his death.
He was deeply involved in many Jewish causes including the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. He was also active with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
.
of pancreatic cancer
. He was 94 years old at the time of death.
In November 2007, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn announced the Jack Miller Memorial Scholarship
Fund at the University of Michigan Law School. The fund provides a scholarship to a financially challenged first-year law student from the city of Detroit as well as an opportunity to work as a summer associate at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn. In establishing the fund, the firm’s chief officer, Alan S. Schwartz, was quoted as saying:
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and co-founder of the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn
Honigman is a leading business law firm based in Michigan with an international practice. Headquartered in Detroit with offices in Lansing, Oakland County, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, Michigan the firm has attorneys practicing in more than 50 different areas of concentration.-Honors:Chambers USA:...
.
Early life
Miller was born in Baltimore, MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 1912 to immigrant parents. He grew up in Detroit and graduated from Detroit Central High School, the first public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
established in Detroit and in Michigan. During his time at Detroit Central, he met his future wife, Jeanette Rabinowitz. He graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
with an undergraduate degree
Undergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
in 1933. Two years later, in 1935, he graduated, with honors, from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
with a law degree / Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
.
Law career
In 1948, with Jason L. HonigmanJason L. Honigman
Jason L. Honigman was a lawyer and the Republican nominee for Michigan Attorney General in 1958.- Early life:Honigman was born in Russia in 1904 during the reign of Nicholas II, the last tsar of Russia. Prior to World War I, he emigrated to the United States in 1911 with his mother...
, he formed a law firm what is known today as Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn
Honigman is a leading business law firm based in Michigan with an international practice. Headquartered in Detroit with offices in Lansing, Oakland County, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, Michigan the firm has attorneys practicing in more than 50 different areas of concentration.-Honors:Chambers USA:...
. The firm has been headquartered in the First National Building
First National Building
The First National Building is an skycraper and class-A office center in downtown Detroit, Michigan. Completed in 1930, the structure rises 25 stories and includes two basement levels, occupying an entire block along Cadillac Square . Located within the Detroit Financial District, the tower's main...
since its founding, which is located in the heart of downtown Detroit directly facing Campus Martius Park
Campus Martius Park
Campus Martius Park is a re-established park in downtown Detroit, Michigan. After the fire of 1805, Campus Martius was the focal point of judge Augustus Woodward's plans to rebuild the city. It is where the "point of origin" of Detroit's coordinate system is located...
.
In practice, he was primarily a business lawyer. In addition to his business practice, he also headed the firm’s matrimonial / family law
Family law
Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...
group. As a family law practitioner, he represented many of Detroit’s social elite, including Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II , commonly known as "HF2" and "Hank the Deuce", was the son of Edsel Ford and grandson of Henry Ford...
in his divorce from Christina Ford in 1980.
He was a life-long member of the State Bar of Michigan
State Bar of Michigan
The State Bar of Michigan is an organization of lawyers in the State of Michigan. Membership is mandatory for attorneys who practice law in the state of Michigan...
as well as the International Society of Barristers
International Society of Barristers
The International Society of Barristers is an honor society for the best trial lawyers.-Overview:It was created in 1965. Its members are mostly from the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, and Mexico...
.
Retirement and interests
Although never formally retiring, he was actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the firm. In his spare time, he was dedicated to his family and was an active tennisTennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player even up to the time of his death.
He was deeply involved in many Jewish causes including the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. He was also active with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
.
Death
Miller died at his home in Franklin, MichiganFranklin, Michigan
Franklin is a village in Southfield Township, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,150 at the 2010 census. The community is known for large, estate-style homes situated on ravines, as well as its vintage downtown and cider mill....
of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
. He was 94 years old at the time of death.
In November 2007, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn announced the Jack Miller Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
Fund at the University of Michigan Law School. The fund provides a scholarship to a financially challenged first-year law student from the city of Detroit as well as an opportunity to work as a summer associate at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn. In establishing the fund, the firm’s chief officer, Alan S. Schwartz, was quoted as saying:
We are so proud to be able to celebrate Jack Miller’s amazing life and accomplishments with this gift. This will ensure Jack’s legacy of caring, kindness, and generosity will live on forever.
External links
- In Memory of My Grandfather: A Giant Lost by Zack Miller