Former Judge Mary Chrzanowski to lead Macomb County Conviction Integrity Unit, veteran jurist to serve as part-time special prosecutor, succeeding retiring Chief Gail Pamukov

Former Judge Mary Chrzanowski to Lead Macomb County Conviction Integrity Unit, Veteran jurist to serve as Part-Time Special Prosecutor, succeeding retiring Chief Gail Pamukov

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. - Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido today announced that former Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Mary Chrzanowski was hired as Chief of the Macomb County Prosecutor's Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU), serving in the position of Part-Time Special Prosecutor. Chrzanowski begins her new role on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026.

Chrzanowski succeeds Gail Pamukov, who retired on May 15, 2026, after leading the Conviction Integrity Unit since its creation in 2022. Under Pamukov's leadership, the unit established itself as a model of fairness and accountability, secured a highly competitive $1.6 million federal grant to expand post-conviction DNA reviews, and achieved the office's first conviction integrity exoneration.

"Judge Chrzanowski's decades of judicial experience, sound judgment, and commitment to fairness make her exceptionally well suited to lead the Conviction Integrity Unit," Prosecutor Lucido said. "She is a welcome addition to help us protect the integrity of the justice system."

The Conviction Integrity Unit reviews post-conviction claims of actual innocence, examines newly discovered evidence, and works to ensure convictions are both legally sound and factually accurate. The unit reflects the Prosecutor's commitment to pursuing justice wherever the evidence leads, holding the guilty accountable while correcting the rare cases where the justice system has failed.

"I am deeply honored that Prosecutor Lucido has entrusted me with this responsibility," Chrzanowski said. "The integrity of our criminal justice system depends on public confidence that every conviction is accurate, fair, and supported by the evidence. I look forward to building on the outstanding foundation established by Ms. Pamukov and working to ensure justice is faithfully served."

Pamukov praised the appointment, saying Chrzanowski's experience and reputation make her uniquely qualified to continue the unit's mission.

"Mary Chrzanowski is exactly the right person to lead the Conviction Integrity Unit at this time," Pamukov said. "She has earned the respect of lawyers, judges, law enforcement, and the community through decades of thoughtful, principled decision-making. I know she will lead this unit with integrity. I could not be happier to see the work continue in such capable hands."

The Conviction Integrity Unit was established by Prosecutor Lucido in 2022 as part of a broader effort to strengthen public confidence in the criminal justice system while ensuring that justice is done in every case. Since its inception, the unit has conducted comprehensive reviews of post-conviction innocence claims, resulting in the office's first exoneration in 2023.

In 2023, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office was awarded a $1.6 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, one of only four such awards nationwide that year, to expand the unit's review of post-conviction DNA cases. The grant has increased the office's ability to investigate older cases, locate biological evidence, and use modern forensic science to determine whether DNA testing may establish actual innocence.

"Public safety and justice are not competing values, they are partners," Lucido said. "When the guilty are convicted and the innocent are protected, confidence in the justice system grows stronger. The Conviction Integrity Unit reflects our commitment to getting every case right, and Judge Chrzanowski will continue that mission with distinction."

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office remains committed to protecting victims, supporting law enforcement, and ensuring every conviction reflects the highest standards of fairness, accuracy, and justice.

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