ALPENA — The Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday barred Alpena attorney Michelle Elowski from practicing law in the state.

The order stems from a petition filed by the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission on March 11 requesting an injunction from the Supreme Court.

The brief order from the state’s highest court does not say how long Elowski is barred from practicing and does not list a reason for the order, but Elowski faces embezzlement charges in Oscoda County for allegedly stealing money from her clients and faces jail time in Alpena County for contempt of court in a civil case in which a family accused her of misusing family funds.

Attorneys for the commission could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

“I had already advised the AGC several weeks ago of my intent to retire from the practice of law and relinquish my license due to health issues,” Elowski said in an email to The News on Wednesday.

She sent a response to the Michigan Supreme Court with a similar message.

Elowski said she could not comment on the case because of her counsel’s request.

The State Bar of Michigan website, as of Wednesday afternoon, still listed Elowski as an active member in good standing.

On March 11, Judge Allen Curtis of Alpena County’s Probate Court sentenced Elowski to 45 days in jail for direct contempt of court for abruptly leaving a civil court proceeding in November. The Michigan Court of Appeals, however, stayed the enforcement of that sentence, allowing Elowski to stay out of jail until the court resolves the appeal.

Curtis has ordered Elowski to repay more than $500,000 to two families, but Elowski told the court in February the money is gone.

Separately, in Oscoda County, Elowski faces two counts of common law fraud, one count of check fraud with non-sufficient funds of $500 or more, one count of embezzlement by a trustee of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, and one count of embezzlement by a trustee of $50,000 or more but less than $100,000.