Lansing, Michigan – Michigan’s environmental disputes have taken Assistant Attorney General Keith Underkoffler from state legal work to a team advocating before the nation’s highest court. Now, that work has helped earn him a place among 20 state leaders receiving national recognition.
Underkoffler has been selected for the Council of State Governments’ 20 under 40 Leadership Award, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced. The honor recognizes elected and appointed officials who demonstrate strong leadership and a commitment to serving people in their states or territories.
The recipients include senators, representatives, policy directors and other state officials. For Underkoffler, the recognition follows a legal career that included federal clerkships and private practice before he joined Michigan’s Department of Attorney General in 2022.
“We are lucky to have Keith’s skill and insight working for the people of the State of Michigan on some of the most consequential environmental cases facing our state,” said Attorney General Nessel.
“His commitment, leadership, and appellate knowledge make him a valuable asset to the Department. This award is incredibly well-deserved.”
Underkoffler serves in the department’s Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture Division. He has represented Michigan in environmental disputes at every level of the judiciary, including as part of a team that advocated before the U.S. Supreme Court.
His colleagues’ nomination letters described both the quality of his legal work and his efforts to help others succeed.
Division Chief Polly Synk wrote that Underkoffler strives to do the best work possible while empowering others “to improve the work we do as a State, as well as the work the Department of Attorney General engages in with other States, Tribal governments, and environmental leaders, for the benefit of us all.”
Michigan Solicitor General Ann Sherman also highlighted his abilities, writing that his “research, writing, and strategic talents quickly became apparent and led to him being assigned, among other projects, to work on one of our most important environmental cases.”
Before entering state service, Underkoffler held clerkships with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Iowa State University, graduating magna cum laude with honors, followed by a master’s in philosophy from the University of Alberta. He received his law degree magna cum laude from George Mason University School of Law.
The CSG recognition adds to an earlier distinction: the American Law Institute’s CLE Scholarship and Leadership Award.