Judge Susan L. Reck photograph by Stockbridge resident unveiled in courthouse
by Mary Jo David
By their very nature, photographers are happy to remain behind the camera, focusing their attention on the subject in front of the lens. That’s exactly what Suzi Greenway was doing when she photographed Judge Susan L. Reck back in 1989 as part of a class project Greenway was working on. At that time, Reck was serving as Judge of the Probate Court in Livingston County, a position she had been elected to the previous year.
Fast forward to 2023, when Livingston County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley began her hunt for a special photograph of Judge Reck, the first female judge in Livingston County and the last judge to preside in the historic Livingston County Courthouse. During her tenure, Reck was also appointed chief judge of the 44th Circuit Court. She retired from the bench in 2006.
Hundley had found a perfect spot in the historic courthouse for Reck’s portrait but was challenged to find just the right photo from Judge Reck’s time on the bench. As Hundley undertook the photo search, Reck’s husband, attorney J. David Reck, recalled the photo shoot Greenway had done many years before. In fact, over many years, he had kept on his desk one of the photos of his wife from that project. This prompted him to reach out to Greenway to ask if she still had negatives from the shoot.
“It took me all of five minutes to find those negatives,” Greenway recalled as she talked about the honor of having one of her photographs hanging in the Courthouse.
More than the honor, though, Greenway is sentimental about the nearly 40-year friendship she has maintained with Judge Reck and her family.
“Susan and David, along with their sons, are very special to me. Initially, I worked for the family and catered some of Susan’s campaign events, but soon we all became fast friends,” Greenway said. She laughed as she remembered Judge Reck officiating at two of Greenway’s weddings, even going so far as to ride up the aisle on a motorcycle at one of them.
Once Greenway produced the negatives from her class project photo shoot, the perfect photo was selected and reproduced and is now hanging in a place of honor in the historic Livingston County Courthouse.
“It’s a classic shot that speaks to Susan’s competence and compassion during her time on the bench,” Greenway noted about the photograph that was ultimately selected.
Unbeknownst to Judge Reck, an unveiling of the portrait was planned for July 12, 2023, at the Courthouse. Reck’s family, along with Greenway and Hundley, were among the guests in attendance as Judge Susan Reck saw, for the first time, her portrait hanging prominently in the distinguished halls of the historic Courthouse.
Although the day-to-day activities of the Livingston courts have moved to a new building, the historic Livingston County Courthouse, built in 1890 at 200 East Grand River in Howell, Mich., continues to be used for some county business as well as tours and special events. This imposing yet attractive structure has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.
Photographer Suzi Greenway (left), retired Judge Susan L. Reck (center) and Livingston County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley (right) are pictured below Greenway’s photograph of Judge Reck that was unveiled in the historic Livingston County Courthouse on July 12. Photo provided by Suzi Greenway.
