Todd Perkins

Todd Russell Perkins is an American attorney based in Detroit, Michigan. He is the founder of Perkins Law Group and serves as city attorney for Inkster, Michigan, having previously served as city attorney for Highland Park, Michigan. Perkins has represented public officials and other prominent clients in criminal and civil matters and has been involved in political and racial-justice initiatives in Detroit.

Early life and education

Perkins grew up in Detroit's North End neighborhood with five brothers. His father worked as a barber and his mother as a library clerk. He attended University of Detroit Jesuit High School. His brother, Sean Perkins, is a judge of Detroit's 36th District Court.

Perkins attended Dartmouth College, where he played tailback for the Dartmouth Big Green football team. He later attended the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, graduating and becoming licensed to practice law in Michigan in 1996.

Legal career

Perkins opened Perkins Law Group in Detroit in 1996. His legal practice has included criminal and civil litigation, municipal matters, and entertainment and sports law.

Among Perkins' nationally reported cases was his representation of former Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley in criminal proceedings arising from the Flint water crisis. Earley was arraigned on December 21, 2016, on charges including conspiracy, false pretenses, misconduct in office, and willful neglect of duty. Perkins represented Earley at the arraignment and said that his client would be vindicated.

Perkins has represented a number of figures in Michigan politics, government, and media. BridgeDetroit reported that his clients have included former Detroit City Council member George Cushingberry Jr., journalist Charlie LeDuff, former Wayne County chief financial officer Tony Saunders III, state representative Mary Cavanagh, former Detroit council staff member Carol Banks, retired police officer Alonzo Jones, and Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido. He has also represented Judge Kenneth King of Detroit's 36th District Court.

Grosse Pointe Shores sign dispute

In 2020, Perkins displayed a large Black Lives Matter sign outside his home in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. Police cited him on November 30 for violating a village ordinance limiting the size of political signs. Perkins disputed the village's characterization of the sign as political and argued that displaying it was protected expression under the First Amendment.

Perkins subsequently filed a federal lawsuit against Grosse Pointe Shores over the dispute. In January 2021, he reported receiving racist hate mail while the case was pending, prompting a police investigation. The litigation was later settled, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan entered an order dismissing the case on August 18, 2021.

Political and civic activity

Perkins has been involved in Detroit political and civic organizations in addition to his legal practice. In 2021, he advocated for a Detroit ballot proposal asking voters whether the Detroit City Council should establish a reparations task force to recommend housing and economic-development programs addressing historic discrimination against Black Detroiters.

Perkins and his organization, The People's Voice, also backed a separate proposal to amend Detroit's city charter by expanding residents' initiative and referendum powers. After the Detroit Election Commission initially declined to place the proposal on the ballot, Wayne County Chief Judge Timothy Kenny ordered that the measure be submitted to voters in September 2021.

Perkins founded the nonprofit organization The People's Voice, which advocated for the 2021 ballot initiatives.

2025 Detroit mayoral campaign

Perkins formed a candidate committee for the 2025 Detroit mayoral election on January 13, 2025.

Perkins also addressed environmental and infrastructure issues during the campaign. In an interview with Planet Detroit, he called for greater consideration of the environmental effects of development, increased resources for Detroit's sustainability programs, infrastructure investment to address flooding, and efforts to reduce utility costs for residents. In the August 5 nonpartisan primary election, he received 4,603 votes, or 5.35 percent, finishing fourth behind Mary Sheffield, Solomon Kinloch Jr. and Saunteel Jenkins. Former Detroit police chief James Craig finished fifth with 5.18 percent. Sheffield and Kinloch advanced to the general election.