Richard Wygonik was appointed to the bench on March 14, 2005 by Governor Jennifer Grandholm to fill a vacancy in the 19th District Court created by the retirement of Judge Virginia A. Sobotka.  He was retained by election for an additional 6 year term in November 2006.

The local court's newest judge is a lifetime resident of Dearborn and a graduate of Fordson High School. He achieved his law degree from Wayne State University after completing his undergraduate work at Henry Ford Community College and Western Michigan University.

Wygonik has been a practicing attorney since 1972 and has achieved a coveted "AV" rating for the highest level of skill and integrity in the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Directory.

In addition to his extensive experience as a trial lawyer, Wygonik has served as a mediator for Wayne County Circuit Court and as a hearing officer for the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board. He also served on the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association Executive Board.

Long active in community affairs, Wygonik's membership include the Dearborn Pioneers Club, the Dearborn/Dearborn Heights Association for Retarded Children, the Dearborn Bar Association, the Polish American Congress and Bishop Foley Knights of Columbus. He also participated in local cable television "Law in Action" productions and is a founding member of PACE (Polish American Citizens for Equity).

Judge Wygonik and his wife, Adrenne, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, have been married for 42 years.

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