54-A District Court Judge
Judge Amy Krause received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Juris Doctor from The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
Judge Krause began her legal career as a litigation attorney with a private law firm and then dedicated her career to public service. She served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for four years and a first assistant prosecutor/Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit Director for four years. She was appointed an Assistant Attorney General in 1997 by then Attorney General Frank J. Kelley and was the first recipient of the Frank J. Kelley Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. Judge Krause worked for Attorney General Kelley and his successor, then Attorney General and now Governor, Jennifer M. Granholm for six years.
Throughout her work as a trial attorney, Judge Krause took to jury trial or preliminary examination hundreds of criminal cases in many counties throughout the State of Michigan. She is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of criminal law, trial advocacy, and cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
On March 10, 2003, Governor Granholm appointed Judge Krause to her current position as 54-A District Court Judge for the City of Lansing. She was then elected to the position in November 2004.
In January 2004, Judge Krause began a new and innovative way to handle domestic violence cases by establishing a Domestic Violence Court to focus upon these crimes. In Lansing, at least one-half of all homicides are related to domestic violence. The court was established to prevent domestic homicide, and it works as a team effort involving the court, prosecutors, defense attorneys, police officers, batterers intervention programs, and victim support services. The court enforces the idea that those guilty of domestic violence must be accountable for their actions, and are required to complete a 26 – 52 week domestic violence program. Their sentencing may also include drug and/or alcohol counseling, community service work, jail time, and fines and costs. If a defendant successfully completes all terms and conditions of probation, the court presides over a “graduation” in the courtroom.
Judge Krause also serves as the Chairperson of the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board. Judge Krause has lectured for the Prosecuting Attorney Association of Michigan, the National District Attorney Association, the National College of District Attorneys, the Legal Aid of Southeastern Michigan, and has guest lectured for the University of Michigan Law School. She is also actively involved in our community as a Board Member with Lansing Educational Advancement Foundation (LEAF), Youth Development Corporation (YDC), Child Abuse Prevention Services and is a member of the Cooley Law School Inns of Court and Zonta Club of Lansing.
She was an Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University College of Law and currently serves as Adjunct Professor at Cooley Law School. Judge Krause resides in Lansing with her husband Kurt E. Krause, Assistant Director of the Office of Legal Affairs for the Department of Community Health.
