Judge B. Pennie Millender was appointed Judge in 2004 after holding a position as Magistrate with the 36th District Court since December of 1997. Studying at Olivet College and Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the latter in 1974. In 1976 Judge Millender obtained a Master of Arts in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from the Wayne State University, in 1987 she was awarded a Juris Doctorate from Detroit College of Law and was subsequently admitted to the State Bar of Michigan.

While studying law, Judge Millender served as Vice President of the Wolverine Student Bar Association (BALSA). She also received several awards, including the Harold E. Bledsoe Award for Academic Excellence, the American Jurisprudence Book Award, and a certificate for "Excellence in the Study of Law". In addition she held internships with Honorable Claudia House Morcom in the Wayne County Circuit Court and with Honorable Dennis W. Archer in the Michigan Supreme Court.

Prior to her present position, Judge Millender served as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, Region 7 from 1987-90, as well as chairperson and member of the Michigan Employment Security Board of Review from 1990-97. Among her numerous activities, she presided as chairperson of the Civil Liberties Committee for the State Bar of Michigan from 1995-97. Judge Millender belongs to both the Association of Black Judges of Michigan and the Wolverine Bar Association. She is a lifelong member of the NAACP and has served as a member of the Robert L. Millender, Sr., Memorial Fund Inc. for nearly twenty years.