About James T.
James T. Haadsma built a legal foundation in Michigan and returned to public life several times over a career that spans private practice, legal aid and elected office. He completed his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University in 1980, attended the University of Colorado–Denver the same year, and earned his J.D. from Wayne State University Law School in 1984.
He began his legal work at Legal Aid of Western Michigan in 1984, taking on cases that brought him into direct contact with clients who could not otherwise afford representation. A few years later he joined McCroskey Law in 1987, where he moved into private practice while maintaining a connection to service-oriented work. Those early roles set a pattern: alternating between legal practice and roles that serve the public interest.
Haadsma’s record includes elected office at both the county and state levels. In 2009 he served on the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, participating in local governance and county oversight. A decade later he served as the Michigan State Representative for the 62nd District in 2019, representing constituents in the state House of Representatives. Colleagues and constituents cite his familiarity with local institutions and the mechanics of government budgeting and administration.
On the litigation side, Haadsma is admitted to practice in Michigan, before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and before the Sixth Circuit. Those admissions have allowed him to handle matters that proceed through state courts and into the federal system, including appellate matters when they arise. His docket over the years has reflected a mix of client types and procedural contexts, from trial-level advocacy to appearances in federal court.
He has maintained steady ties to the legal community through membership in the Michigan State Bar Association, the Calhoun County Bar Association and the Michigan Association for Justice. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Legal Services of South Central Michigan in Battle Creek. Those affiliations keep him engaged with developments in practice and policy at both the local and state level.
Haadsma’s career moves between public service and private practice mark him as an attorney comfortable in both arenas. He brings courtroom experience and a background in governmental work to client matters. He currently practices at McCroskey Law, handling cases in state and federal courts and representing clients across the region.
