Nicole Huddleston is a dedicated advocate and public servant committed to strengthening families and communities. Raised in a working-class home, she was instilled with the values of service above self.
Her mother, a nursing home supervisor, and her father, a Vietnam veteran, taught her the importance of hard work, helping others, and standing up for what is right. This foundation inspired Nicole to pursue a career in law to make a difference and improve lives.
After graduating from Cass Tech High School, Nicole earned a B.A. from Oakland University and a J.D.
from The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. During her time at UDM, she was an active member of the Moot Court Board of Advocates and vice-president of the Business Law Association.
Nicole also gained valuable experience as a judicial intern with Honorable Victoria Roberts and Honorable Marianne Battani in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and with Honorable Helene White in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Throughout her legal career, Nicole has been dedicated to helping marginalized and underserved communities achieve their full potential. She has provided free legal counsel and representation to individuals who otherwise would not have access to the judicial system, handling family, civil, and criminal litigation throughout Southeastern Michigan.
As the managing director at the Detroit Justice Center (DJC), she has overseen the Legal Services Practice, successfully removing legal barriers for thousands of clients in the Metro Detroit area. Prior to her role at DJC, Nicole served as an assistant Wayne County prosecutor in the domestic violence division and as a staff attorney at Legal Aid and Defenders and Lakeshore Legal Aid.
Recognized as a social justice leader, she is an active member of several bar associations, including the Wolverine Bar Association, the Oakland County Bar Association, and the Straker Bar Association. Nicole is also an ABA-certified mediator in Michigan and was named to the Michigan Supreme Court’s Justice for All (JFA) Commission in 2021, where she helps implement the JFA Strategic Plan to assist Michiganders with civil legal problems.
Nicole lives in West Bloomfield with her husband and 11-year-old son, and has two adult daughters who are college juniors. She is actively involved in the community, serving on the board of The Youth Connection, which provides mentorship and job-readiness skills for at-risk youth, and on the advisory board for the Center for Employment Opportunities, which supports justice-impacted job seekers.
Additionally, she is an executive board member of Matrix Theater, an organization dedicated to building community and creating positive change through the arts. Nicole is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
and Jack and Jill of America, North/Oakland Macomb Chapter.
Nicole Huddleston is running for Oakland County Circuit Court Judge because she believes that the judiciary should reflect the community it serves and uphold the principles of equal justice under the law. As a mother and caregiver for children who were not biologically her own, she understands the importance of guardianship decisions for children, families, and the broader community.
If elected to the Family Division of Oakland County's Circuit Court, Nicole promises to approach every decision with fairness, empathy, and integrity. Nicole aims to make history as the first Black woman elected to the 6th Circuit bench who was not first appointed.
She will prioritize critical thinking, the right temperament, and justice under the law, ensuring that personal biases do not influence any court decisions.