Detroit – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that Hon. James Alexander (Ret.) has been honored with the Avern Cohn Lifetime Achievement Award by the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan (JBAM). Judge Alexander was selected for his commitment to the Jewish and legal communities. The recognition was presented as part of JBAM’s 2025 Annual Awards ceremony on May 21.
The award was created to honor the contributions of its namesake, Judge Avern Cohn, to legal scholarship and the study of legal history. Judge Alexander was honored alongside this year’s recipients of the JBAM’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Champion of Justice Award, Chutzpah Attorney Advocate Award and Volunteer of the Year Award. The JBAM also presented its annual Charles J. Cohen Esq. Law Student Scholarship.
“We are grateful to the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan for honoring Judge Alexander’s commitment to the local Jewish and legal communities in Detroit and beyond. He brings the same strong spirit and dedication to the practice of ADR as a JAMS neutral, and we deeply value his contributions and the impact he continues to make.”
Kimberly Taylor, CEO and president
Judge Alexander joined JAMS in 2021 following nearly 20 years in the Oakland County Circuit Court in Michigan, including a nine-year tenure in the Family Court. He is one of only five Oakland County jurists to have served on each of the court’s branches in his time on the bench.
At JAMS, Judge Alexander serves as an arbitrator, mediator and special master/referee, handling business and commercial, construction, employment, family law, government and public agency, and professional liability disputes.
Judge Alexander is known for his service on the Oakland County’s Business Court, where he averaged 500 cases per year and resolved most short of trial. He also served as chairman of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section for the State Bar of Michigan and on the Detroit Commercial/Construction Advisory Committee for the American Arbitration Association.
More information about the Avern Cohn Lifetime Achievement Award can be found here. Additionally, the Detroit Jewish News covered Judge Alexander and the other award recipients' recognitions here.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. With a roster of nearly 500 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS successfully resolves and manages tens of thousands of business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, the latest technology and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.
Building on this foundation, JAMS Pathways focuses on early conflict resolution, facilitation and training. Learn more about JAMS Pathways at jamspathways.com.
More information about JAMS is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and our JAMS ADR blog.