LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline)-Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said Monday that the best person to succeed him as AG is former state appeals court Judge Bill Schuette.

Cox, a Republican, is running for governor. Schuette is a former congressman, state senator and state director of agriculture. He is currently a senior attorney at the Lansing office of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP.

"Bill Schuette understands that law enforcement is the first building block to economic recovery in Michigan," Cox said. "Bill Schuette is committed to keeping our homes, neighborhoods, schools and families safe, and I am proud today to endorse him in the race for attorney general."

Also vying for the Republican nomination is state Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop, R-Rochester. GOP conventions to select the nominees will be held in August.

On the Democratic side is Farmington Hills trial attorney Richard Bernstein and Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.

From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.