Tonya Krause-Phelan, Cooley Law School associate dean of academics and professor, has been named to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Class of 2025. In addition to Krause-Phelan, Cooley Law School graduates Karl Numinen (1992) and Rebecca Walsh (1991) were also named to this year’s Hall of Fame class.
As an honoree of MiLW’s Class of 2023 Influential Women of Law, Krause-Phelan began her legal career in 1989 working as an assistant public defender at the Kent County Office of the Defender. After three years as a defender, she moved to private practice in 1992, specializing in criminal defense where she achieved not guilty verdicts for many appointed and retained clients in both state and federal courts.
Krause-Phelan joined Cooley Law School as a visiting professor teaching Criminal Law in 2005, and became a full-time professor a year later. In addition to Criminal Law, she teaches Criminal Procedure, Defending Battered Women, Criminal Sentencing, and Ethics in Criminal Cases. Her leadership reaches beyond the classroom, assisting with the West Michigan Defenders Clinic and coaching national mock trial and moot court teams. Four years after joining Cooley, she was honored by the Student Bar Association and awarded with the inaugural Professor of the Year award for her mentorship and commitment to empower law students throughout their law school journey.
In 2022, Krause-Phelan took on the additional role of associate dean of academics at Cooley, where she continues to invest in the students, and formulates valuable improvements to the student curriculum and within the law school community.
“Tonya Krause-Phelan upholds a fervent commitment to providing excellence in the practice of the law and promotes perpetual improvements to the legal community and justice system in Michigan, all while leading and preparing students throughout their journey to become future law practitioners,” said Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath, who nominated her for the award.
Numinen (John W. McGrath Class) is a partner at Numinen, DeForge & Toutant, PC. in the Upper Peninsula. He specializes in criminal, divorce, real estate and personal injury law. Numinen is also of counsel to the Barone Defense Firm, and teaches a master class on trial skills to the members of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan.
Walsh (Edwin Lawerence Class) is a partner and senior attorney at American Baby & Child Law Centers: Birth Injury Lawyers, specializing in birth injury law. She also writes and speaks about insurance litigation and trial practices on a regular basis. Walsh previously taught Legal Methods at Cooley Law School as an adjunct professor.
Krause-Phelan, Numinen and Walsh will be honored during a celebration event on Friday, April 25, at The Mint at Michigan First Conference Center in Lathrop Village.