Criminal defense attorney and activist. Former Judge, Detroit Recorder's Court. Civil litigator. Mediator. Judge Ravitz, known for his commitment to social justice, earned a bachelors degree (with highest distinction) from Babson College in 1961, a masters in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania in 1963 and a law degree from the University of Michigan in December, 1965. As a young activist lawyer, he was an important player in the Detroit radical movement of the 1960s and '70s. He teamed with the late attorney Ken Cockrel Sr. (1938-1989) to "shred some of the most insidious forms of abuse by local police, courts and jails" (from the book 'Detroit, I Do Mind Dying'). His many accomplishments during that time include shutting down the notorious STRESS (Stop The Robberies, Enjoy Safe Streets) unit of the Detroit Police Department, revamped the jury selection process that had favored whites, and he improved the Wayne County jail conditions. He served as a Recorder's Court Judge from 1973 until 1986. He was often referred to as "America's first elected Marxist judge" due to the fact that he refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at his swearing-in ceremony in 1972 (as a protest to the Vietnam War). In addition, his courtroom bailiff would not say "all rise for the judge," but would say "all rise for the jury." He eventually joined with the law firm of what's now known as Sommers Schwartz P.C. in 1986 until he left the firm in early 2007 to start Ravitz Mediation Services, LLC. He died suddenly of natural causes while vacationing in Mexico. He is survived by his wife, Berna Ravitz; sons Jason and Anthony Ravitz; daughter Jessica Ravitz. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Dora Ravitz.