STUART DUNNINGS III
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Stuart Dunnings III was elected Ingham County Prosecutor in 1996, becoming the second African American elected Prosecutor in Michigan history. Prior to his election, Dunnings had served for sixteen years as a partner in the law firm founded by his father, Dunnings and Frawley.
Upon taking office, Mr. Dunnings reorganized the office to place a high priority on cases involving youth violence, sexual assault, domestic abuse, and drug trafficking. In addition, the office has continued its partnership with community crime prevention groups such as the Youth Violence Prevention Coalition, the Capitol Area Family Violence Coordinating Council and the Comprehensive Strategy Initiative.
At the end of his first year in office, Mr. Dunnings was named one of the 12 Lawyers of the Year of 1997 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Mr. Dunnings III is a graduate of Amherst College and received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.
Also, he served for nine years, from 1987-1996, as a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Standing Committee on Character and Fitness, and previously served as an adjunct Professor of Law at Thomas M. Cooley Law School(1989-1998).
In November 2004, Mr. Dunnings was re-elected to the office of Prosecutor, with 66 percent of the Ingham County vote. He was sworn in to a third, four-year term on January 1, 2001. In his role as Prosecutor, he also serves as a member of the State of Michigan Committee on Criminal Procedure.
Mr. Dunnings serves as President of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM). As President of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Mr. Dunnings represents Michigan’s 83 Prosecutors before the Michigan legislature, serving as an advocate for law enforcement and the rights of crime victims.
He and his wife, Cynthia, live in Lansing and have three daughters.
