Sima Patel

Sima Patel is a judge of the Michigan 2nd District Court of Appeals. She assumed office on March 1, 2022. Her current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Patel is running for re-election for judge of the Michigan 2nd District Court of Appeals. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. The primary for this office on August 4, 2026, was canceled.

Sima Patel has not yet completed [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

If you are Sima Patel, click here to fill out [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out the candidate survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete [the profile publisher]'s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's [the profile publisher] profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 33,000 candidates have taken [the profile publisher]'s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

Help improve [the profile publisher] - send us candidate contact info.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Judge Sima Patel sits on the Michigan Court of Appeals. Before her appointment to the bench, Judge Patel was an appellate attorney, having written hundreds of briefs and argued in the Michigan Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Michigan Supreme Court during her career. In recognition of her work, she was awarded the prestigious Leaders in Law of 2021 award by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. She was also recognized for having written one of the top scholarly briefs submitted to the Michigan Supreme Court. Judge Patel is the first East-Indian and Asian American to serve on the Michigan Appellate courts.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

An unparalleled track record.Breaking barriers.Protecting the rule of law.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I believe that the judiciary should work for all members of society and am committed to increasing access to justice.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A judge has an obligation to be fair and impartial to all litigants, without a finger on the scale.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Law clerk at the Michigan Supreme Court. 6 years.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Feeling Good by Nina Simone

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The Court of Appeals is a deliberative body. To be an effective judge, you need to have respect for your colleagues and know how to work collaboratively.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

I am a rule of law judge. That means I look at the statutes and rules, common law precedent, and apply and interpret them to the unique facts of each case.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

I was rated by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and received a highly qualified rating.