Bridget M. McCormack is the president and CEO of the American Arbitration Association International Centre for Dispute Resolution® (AAA-ICDR®), the preeminent global provider of alternative dispute resolution services. She has an extensive background in judicial service, court administration and scholarship and a track record of advocacy for innovation and technology in dispute resolution. Before her tenure at AAA-ICDR, which commenced in February 2023, McCormack served as the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 2019 to 2022 after being an associate justice since 2013. Her leadership led to pioneering reforms in Michigan’s court system, notably the launch of the state’s first online dispute resolution platform and an eviction diversion program, both crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
McCormack’s dedication to education and legal reform is evident in her academic roles. As an esteemed educator at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, she has been instrumental in exploring the implications of artificial intelligence in the legal sector and advocating for responsible AI practices within the profession. Her leadership as the chair of the American Bar Association’s Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar and her involvement with key legal education and reform committees have been pivotal in modernizing legal education and practice.
Her early career began in New York City, where she worked as a trial attorney at the Legal Aid Society and then at the Office of the Appellate Defender, followed by academic positions at Yale and the University of Michigan Law Schools. Notably, she co-founded the Michigan Innocence Clinic, the first non-DNA innocence clinic in the country, which has led to the exoneration of 41 individuals as of April 2024.
McCormack’s achievements have been widely recognized, earning her numerous awards, including the Sunshine Award from the Michigan Press Association for promoting transparency in public service and the Rebuilding Justice Award, acknowledging her dedication to legal reform. Her influential work earned her the title of “Influential Woman in Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in 2022.
A graduate of Trinity College and New York University Law School, where she was a Root-Tilden Scholar, McCormack’s professional journey reflects a pursuit of justice, innovation and education in the legal field. She is married to Steven Croley, Ford Motor Company’s general counsel and chief policy officer, and they have four adult children.