Michigan Assistant Attorney General Receives National '20 Under 40' Leadership Award
A state official in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan, has received a national honor. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on November 6 that Assistant Attorney General Keith Underkoffler has been selected to receive the Council of State Governments (CSG) 20 Under 40 Leadership Award. The CSG Award is given to 20 of the country's outstanding elected and appointed officials who exemplify strong leadership skills and show commitment to serving the citizens of their state or territory. Underkoffler joins numerous senators, representatives, policy directors, and other important state leaders across the country.
"We are lucky to have Keith's skill and insight working for the people of the State of Michigan on some of the most consequential environmental cases facing our state," said Attorney General Nessel. "His commitment, leadership, and appellate knowledge make him a valuable asset to the Department. This award is incredibly well-deserved."
Underkoffler joined the Department of Attorney General's Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture Division in 2022 after holding several prestigious clerkships, including with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Polly Synk, the Department's Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture Division Chief, wrote in her nominating letter that Underkoffler is committed to doing the best work possible and empowering others "to improve the work we do as a State, as well as the work the Department of Attorney General engages in with other States, Tribal governments, and environmental leaders, for the benefit of us all." In her nominating letter, Michigan Solicitor General Ann Sherman wrote that Underkoffler's "research, writing, and strategic talents quickly became apparent and led to him being assigned, among other projects, to work on one of our most important environmental cases."
Underkoffler has represented the State of Michigan in environmental disputes at every level of the judiciary, including joining a team that advocated before the Supreme Court of the United States. He holds a B.A. in philosophy from Iowa State University (magna cum laude, with honors), an M.A. in philosophy from the University of Alberta, and a J.D. from the George Mason University School of Law (magna cum laude). He is a recipient of the American Law Institute's CLE Scholarship and Leadership Award. In addition to his legal clerkships, he also worked in private practice before being appointed as an Assistant Attorney General.
(Source: Michigan Attorney General's Office)
Source: Michigan Attorney General's Office
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Photo: 图：密歇根州议会大厦穹顶，位于兰辛。CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Dome of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
