Richard Allen Griffin is a Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals. Judge Griffin received his bachelor of arts, magna cum laude, from Western Michigan University Honors College in 1973 and received his juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1977. Griffin worked as a law clerk for Washtenaw Circuit Judge Ross W. Campbell from 1975 to 1977.

Judge Griffin was a founding partner of the Traverse City law firm Read & Griffin. During his eleven years of private practice, Richard Griffin was engaged in an extensive trial practice. He tried cases in thirteen different counties and handled numerous appeals. He served as a court-appointed mediator in eight counties. Griffin also practiced in the Federal District Court-Western District, Federal District Court-Eastern District, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Griffin is a former member of the Federal Judicial Selection Committee for the Western District of Michigan.

In November, 1988, Judge Griffin was elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals (Third District). He was reelected in November, 1996 (Fourth District). In 1994, Judge Griffin was nominated for the Michigan Supreme Court. In all campaigns, he has never accepted contributions from political action committees.

Judge Griffin is active in his community as Chief Judge, YMCA Youth in Government mock trial program; president, Grand Traverse Zoological Society (Clinch Park Zoo); past chairman, Grand Traverse Yellow Ribbon Committee (Desert Storm Welcome Home); past chairman, Long Lake Township Building Authority; and former ambassador, National Cherry Festival.

Rick and his wife, Chris, have been married for over 30 years and have three children. They live in Long Lake Township near Traverse City, Michigan.