Ronald J. Bretz is a highly respected legal scholar, educator, and advocate whose career has shaped generations of legal professionals and advanced the field of criminal justice in Michigan and beyond. A professor emeritus at Cooley Law School, Ronald chaired the Criminal Law and Procedure Department from 2001 to 2012, where he taught criminal law, criminal procedure, and forensic evidence. His exceptional teaching earned him the Stanley E. Beatty Teaching Award six times—a reflection of his deep knowledge, clarity, and mentorship in the classroom.

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Before entering academia, Ronald practiced appellate criminal defense with the State Appellate Defender Office, where his commitment to justice was recognized in 1987 with an award from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM) for Outstanding Contribution to Criminal Defense Appellate Work.

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Ronald remains deeply engaged in the legal community as a member of the Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, CDAM, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Michigan Criminal Justice Policy Commission. He is a frequent lecturer for the Michigan Judges Association and has presented for organizations including the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System, Wayne County Criminal Advocacy Program, State Bar of Michigan, Ingham County Bar Association, and the Michigan State Police Forensic Serology Unit.

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He is the co-author of the textbook Criminal Law: Cases, Statutes, and Problems (Wolters Kluwer, 2015), and contributed a chapter on Michigan’s justice system to The History of Michigan Law (Ohio University Press, 2006). His scholarly writing has appeared in the Wayne Law Review, Cooley Law Review, and Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law.

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Through his decades of advocacy, teaching, and scholarship, Ronald J. Bretz has left an enduring mark on the legal landscape and continues to be a respected voice in Michigan’s criminal justice reform efforts.