In establishing the Community Action Committee I have organized countless community activities. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. All judicial candidates are interviewed by the MAJ Judicial Qualifications Committee. Justice must be carried out in a fair and equal manner. She is currently the judge in Genesee District Courts 2nd Division and has 12 years experience in the practice of criminal, family, and child welfare law. There is also bias with regards to sentencing. Jail overcrowding has long been an issue as many with felony warrants are not lodged at the Genesee County Jail. .courts-container hr {background-color:#f0a236;padding-bottom:2px;}, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Michigan Supreme Court 3116 0 obj <>stream border:1px solid #FFB81F; [4], The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the state supreme court to two-year terms. Ballots will have to be finalized so they can be printed and sent to clerks by June 24, when clerks have to transmit or mail absent voter ballots to military or overseas voters who applied for one. Now, as our court system faces the new reality of operating during a pandemic and recession; with backlogged dockets; a reduced capacity to operate; and almost certain budget cuts to come, it is critical we have battle tested judges who have experience in serving the public under less than ideal circumstances. .widget-row.Republican { } ", He expressed doubt "that I can get a fair and objective legal opinion in this court and maybe beyond?". He is a graduate of Roeper School in Oakland County. I also will continue to support the use of free or low-cost mediation as a means for litigants to resolve their issues. This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. width: 100%; To be elected to either of these courts, a judge must:[3]. [3], Qualifications Michigan District Courts Weier: The State Court Administrators Office monitors the judges dockets to ensure they are running efficiently. The 17th Circuit Court is a circuit court in Michigan that encompasses Kent County. This is not necessarily what the State Court Administrators Office is paying attention to. That term-limit situation was a seesaw battle through the courts with expedited appeals. .widget-key { endstream endobj startxref The 221 judges of the Michigan Circuit Courts are selected in an identical manner, each serving six-year terms. Candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions. There are a substantial number of cases in the Courts, especially in Genesee County. More:Warren Mayor Jim Fouts eligible to be on city ballot, judge rules, More:Warren Mayor Jim Fouts files to run for 5th term despite term limit amendment. Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. She received a bachelors degree, graduating Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan and received her juris doctorate from Michigan State University. GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Six candidates are vying for three judicial seats in contested races Nov. 3 in the county. Every defendant has the right to a jury of their peers, which means that a jury needs to reflect the make-up of the community. word-wrap: break-word; Spelling and grammar were not corrected. I am comfortable leading in a variety of settings. Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2018; Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2017; Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2016; Michigan judicial elections, 2014; Michigan judicial elections, 2012; Michigan judicial elections, 2010; Selection method See also: Nonpartisan election of judges. } I am dedicated, diligent, and business minded. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} In addition, I am the only candidate who has quasi-judicial experience. I have a great deal of trial experience including civil and criminal trials. Term-limit questions have appeared in ballot questions before Warren voters in 1998, 2016 and 2020. .widget-img { Michigan Court of Appeals background-color: #f9d334; Nevertheless, I think this is something the courts should establish. [1], .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } background-color: red; } COVID is a watershed event that will force changes that will impact our courts indefinitely. Christenseon: During my 20-year career I have practiced at every judicial level in Michigan, and I have had the opportunity to learn from Judges across our State. They argued that Fouts is ineligible to run because of term limits approved by voters in 2020. How could the judicial system better serve the public - in cost, in service, and/or in outcomes? I choose to return to Flint to pursue my legal career so that I could serve the city that raised me and gave me the opportunity to succeed. Michigan Circuit Court The 221 judges of the . This also ensures that cases are proceeding in a timely manner. The judges additionally hold bi-weekly meetings to ensure we are meeting the needs of our citizens and addressing any issues that may arise. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties. She is on the MIDC arraignment team and has represented defendants on misdemeanor and felony warrants and misdemeanor cases through trial. Overview; Michigan; Races; Michigan 17th District Court; Data through 12/31/2022 Michigan 17th District Court 2022 Election Season $0 Total Contributions. This year, MLive Media Group partnered with the League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information for readers.
float:right; This makes it extremely difficult for the Court to get through the volume of cases before it. This begins by providing the public with the tools to confirm that fair and equal justice apply to everyone. font-weight: bold; Marsh: The courts are monitored by the State Court Administrators Office; however, I am not aware of the courts establishing any benchmarks to determine if they are effectively meeting the needs of their jurisdiction. } Fouts said Warren residents should be able to decide who will be mayor. Weier: I am dedicated and hard working. Circuit courts are the trial courts with the broadest powers in Michigan. Incumbent judicial address withheld . Fouts has not been named a party in any of the lawsuits, but the decisions by the courts directly affect him. Lastly, we need to be proactive about how to address the generation that was poisoned by lead. We as the judiciary must strive to make all things we do transparent to all. Ballotpedia features 408,485 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. width: 150px; margin-top: 1px; The Michigan Court of Appeals decision is at best an unlikely and implausible conclusion clearly contradicting the ruling of the Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Toia, Fouts said in a lengthy response. The courts have 10 elected judges, four appointed magistrates, nine probation officers and a staff of 50 employees. The council has achieved a TKO in denying a competitive election in November. font-weight: bold; @D=@ -. He has been a member of the Genesee County Democratic Party, Genesee County Democratic Black Caucus, NAACP and Urban League of Flint. Endorsements for all offices are voted on by the Executive Board. The unrest comes from hundreds of years of institutional racism that has plagued our history. background-color: grey; color: white; He worked as an intern at the Genesee County Prosecutors Office and worked as a judicial advisory assistant to Genesee Probate Judge Jennie Barkey. Brighton, MI 48116 Marsh received an associates degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude, from Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek. } %PDF-1.6
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If there are not more than twice the amount of candidates than there are persons to be elected, the race will not appear on the primary election ballot, but only on the general election ballot. She has practiced law for more than 15 years and served as a Genesee County public defender, representing indigent criminal defendants in felony cases for more than 14 years. 17th Circuit Judge of Circuit Court Incumbent 6 Year Terms (4) Positions: Filed On: Method: INC. As Judge, I will work to accomplish this goal by promptly and consistently taking the bench encouraging participants to work through their disputes to narrow the issues and providing decisions in an expeditious manner. All rights reserved. As the immediate past president of the Genesee County Bar Association, and member of the board for over 10 years, I have not only helped to ensure that our legal community is educated in the most up-to-date law but also assists our fellow citizens. I have been fully engaged in the community, and that connection has made me a better and more effective judge. be a qualified elector of his or her district; be licensed to practice law in the state; have at least five years of law practice experience; and. .widget-row { This will help eliminate issues with implicit bias, racism, and sexism. Christina Elmore. }, Paul Denenfeld is a judge of the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County, Michigan. The Circuit Court ruled in favor of City Clerk Sonja Buffa and the Warren Election Commission, which said Fouts was eligible for reelection this year. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. vertical-align: top; f. 517.321.4694, {{#if featuredimages.homepage}} {{featuredimages.homepage.url}}{{else}} /userassets/MI/MI/userimages/DefaultBlogImage.jpeg{{/if}}. [3] Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term. Statewide Governor; . Please explain. You cannot adequately understand where a person is today without understanding where they came from. She is a Soup Kitchen volunteer and a Red Cross blood donor. I will continue to support rehabilitation programs that teach defendants in my court how to break the cycle that brought them in front of me. Judges make decisions about peoples lives daily. Hammon is a graduate of Atherton High School, the University of Michigan Flint and Ann Arbor campuses and Ave Maria School of Law. I have served as a volunteer mediator and contributed countless hours of pro bono work. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} The supreme court may authorize persons who have been elected and served as judges to perform judicial duties for limited periods or specific assignments. } "Buffa is hereby ordered to immediately disqualify Mayor Fouts as a candidate for mayor in 2023 and not place his name on the ballot for election," the Court of Appeals' opinion said. Judge Christina Elmore was elected to the 17th Circuit Court and began her term on January 1, 2019. She has been an attorney for nearly 19 years and has handled all types of cases litigated in Genesee District Court. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. color: black; } Before she was elected to this court, she was a judge on the 61st District Court for the City of Grand Rapids for almost 3 years. The ruling comes less than a month after a Macomb County Circuit Court judge denied a motion from the Warren City Council and Councilman Ron Papandrea that challenged Fouts' eligibility. Knowing a persons history sheds light on their environment, nurturing (or lack thereof), adequacies, inadequacies, gifts, talents, struggles, family, etc. We cannot ignore the social unrest that is taking place in our nation at this time. Toggle navigation 2022 Michigan Candidate Listing Date: 11/08/2022 Type: General, Official. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). They argued that Fouts is ineligible to run because of term limits approved by voters in 2020. But the Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court's decision and ruled in favor of the City Council. Box 20126, . 3rd (Wayne) - John C. Gillis* 3rd (Wayne) - Nicholas Hathaway* 6th (Oakland) - Amanda Shelton* 10th (Saginaw) - Megan Cottington-Heath. [1], .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } Nor do we find dispositive the fact that the 'terms served prior' language was not in the ballot proposal question itself, where the language actually was on the ballot within the proposal section," according to the ruling. .widget-row.heading { His experience includes Wayne State University Law School Civil Rights Law Clinic and he worked as an intern labor attorney at Klimist, McKnight, Sale, McCow, and Canzano. That experience, especially in the Circuit Court level, has shown me great, innovative ways to run a courtroom, and target areas that courts can improve to better serve residents in a more fair and equitable fashion. Marable Jr.: I will bring experience, fairness, commitment, integrity, and diligence to the Circuit Court bench. Education. Sec. We need to have judges who will fight the status quo. .courts-container hr {background-color:#f0a236;padding-bottom:2px;}, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Michigan Supreme Court .widget-row.value-only.black { 2020 Election Season; 2022 Election Season; 2024 Election Season; Candidates; Contributors; Committees; Payees; Lobbying; Search. He has been involved in the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, Whaley Childrens Center, Hurley breast cancer events, Hurley Childrens Hospital events and is a director on the Friends of Berston Field House. I will not have to learn how to be a judge. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. p. 517.321.3073 [3], Denenfeld holds a B.A. Lawrence Garcia, an attorney representing the city clerk and Warren Election Commission, had no comment on the ruling. They are chosen in nonpartisan elections and must face re-election if they wish to continue serving. font-weight: bold; 17th Circuit Court, 61st District Court, Probate Court 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 632-5220 Health. 0
Incumbent. . Marable Jr.: The State Court Administrators Office (SCAO) uses a benchmark system for Michigan courts. } I have strong morals and ethics, integrity, and I am naturally energetic, involved, and visible. Feaster has a bachelors degree from Eastern Michigan University and received his juris doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law. Five of nine Genesee County Board of Commissioner seats contested in Nov. 3 election, Genesee County clerk-register race pits incumbent John Gleason against Republican Jesse Couch, State Rep. Mueller faces challenger May in race for 51st District state House of Representatives. The 2020 vote didnt affect Fouts fourth, four-year term, which began in 2019, but it did appear that he would be unable to seek a fifth term. Hammon: The greatest challenge to justice and public accountability of all governmental units is transparency. 1.1 Judges; 1.2 Former judges; 1.3 See also; 1.4 External links; 2 Elections. ", He said the administration "has been playing games with term limits for over a decade. In addition, we need bond reform to consistently address the issue of bond to ensure that people are not housed in the jail unnecessarily. Working with state court officials, we must use virtual technology, specialty dockets, and other tools to serve the public. font-weight: bold; All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidates and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for a necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Paul Denenfeld is a judge of the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County, Michigan.He was appointed to this position by Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm on July 22, 2009, to succeed Steven Mitchell Pestka. Feaster: I respect Flints rich history and I have dedicated my career to contributing to its future. . .courts-container hr {background-color:#f0a236;padding-bottom:2px;}, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Michigan Supreme Court