michigan 17th circuit court judge candidates 2020

The supreme court may authorize persons who have been elected and served as judges to perform judicial duties for limited periods or specific assignments. Support local journalism. 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; } Health Department. [3], Qualifications width: 43%; . I have served both the legal and greater community in many roles throughout my years of practice. 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. Feaster: The current system demonstrates a lack of respect for the time of those participating in the legal process. display: inline-block; [3], Qualifications GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Six candidates are vying for three judicial seats in contested races Nov. 3 in the county. All judicial candidates are interviewed by the MAJ Judicial Qualifications Committee. Stage. 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. It would not be the first time the Michigan Supreme Court took up a case pertaining to term limits in Warren. I am dedicated, diligent, and business minded. I am comfortable leading in a variety of settings. The judges in the 67th District Court meet frequently to discuss issues concerning the Court and its procedures. In general, circuit courts handle all civil cases with claims of more than $25,000 and all felony criminal cases. But the Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court's decision and ruled in favor of the City Council. 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. .infobox p { If yes, how often should they be reviewed or shared with the public? All rights reserved. Christenson: The court system must be more efficient and respectful of the publics time. 2023 www.freep.com. Previously, he was a director for the Institute for New Democracies for Uzbekistan and senior litigation counsel for the federal public defender office. I have served as a volunteer mediator and contributed countless hours of pro bono work. Her community involvement includes State Bar of Michigan, Genesee County Bar Association, Mallory VanDyne Scott Bar Association Executive Board, Embassy Covenant Church International Presbytery Board and Ministerial Team, Flint Childrens Museum Executive Board, Flint Institute of Arts Gala Committee, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Michigan Branch of the NAACP. If there are more than twice the number of candidates than there are judgeships up for election, the race will appear on the primary election ballot. All candidates for Michigan House and Senate, regardless of party, are invited to return a questionnaire and apply for an endorsement.

} from Western Michigan University and a J.D. For instance, instead of having a separate date for an arraignment and a separate date for a pretrial, some Courts are combining the arraignment and pretrial into one court appearance. [4], The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the state supreme court to two-year terms. The longtime politician is seeking a fifth, four-year term as mayor of Michigan's third-populous city. We cannot ignore the social unrest that is taking place in our nation at this time. I adhere to the proposition that judges should serve the public in a respectful manner and treat everyone that comes before the Court with respect. The district courts are responsible for parking citations, traffic violations, criminal misdemeanors, preliminary examinations in felony cases, landlord-tenant, small claims, and general civil cases. How could the judicial system better serve the public - in cost, in service, and/or in outcomes? 0 font-weight: bold; I am also a sharp and effective communicator with strong leadership and interpersonal skills. Marsh: I believe that social injustice is the greatest challenge to justice. ", More:Making Marrocco's home a prison: No TV, no parties, no golf, More:Trans male fencer Bobbie Hirsch is making history at Wayne State University. More:4 of Warren's longest serving councilmen knocked off ballot again. .widget-row.Green { 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. 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. They argued that Fouts is ineligible to run because of term limits approved by voters in 2020. Education. @D=@ -. In addition, we need bond reform to consistently address the issue of bond to ensure that people are not housed in the jail unnecessarily. p. 517.321.3073 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. font-size: .9em; . 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. Christina Elmore. .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 The term runs from November 2023 until November 2027. Lansing, MI 48933 There are 14 judges currently sitting on the 17th Circuit. "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. The candidate filing deadline for incumbents was March 21, and the deadline for non-incumbents was April 19. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. vertical-align: top; background-color: grey; 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. Term-limit questions have appeared in ballot questions before Warren voters in 1998, 2016 and 2020. If you are interested in receiving MAJ's endorsement please email Executive Director Steve Pontoni at spontoni@michiganjustice.org. Such matters include: civil cases, landlord/tenant cases, misdemeanor criminal cases and felony criminal cases. I was recognized in 2019 by Legal Services of Eastern Michigan as well as the State Bar for contributing over 100 hours of pro bono work to clients in need and so will encourage our bar to donate time to those who need assistance. Why? Knowing a persons history sheds light on their environment, nurturing (or lack thereof), adequacies, inadequacies, gifts, talents, struggles, family, etc. Many litigants cannot afford an attorney. He said his clients want to appeal. float: right; I have more than 18 years experience being an attorney. Brighton, MI 48116 A more consequential date, if the Michigan Supreme Court takes up the appeal, would come within the next few months. } Each candidate was asked to outline their stances on a variety of public policy issues. 3116 0 obj <>stream 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. They argued that Fouts is ineligible to run because of term limits approved by voters in 2020. color: white; Working with state court officials, we must use virtual technology, specialty dockets, and other tools to serve the public. Overview; Michigan; Races; Michigan 17th District Court; Data through 12/31/2022 Michigan 17th District Court 2022 Election Season $0 Total Contributions. 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. from Western Michigan University and a J.D. Fouts has not been named a party in any of the lawsuits, but the decisions by the courts directly affect him. We should review these benchmarks quarterly and make adjustments. Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. The unrest comes from hundreds of years of institutional racism that has plagued our history. Thus, my conclusion is that the Court of Appeals has chosen to deny the voters of Warren the right to have a choice in November. .widget-row.value-only { I am proud that all of my court hearings, despite the current COVID pandemic, are continuing and are streamed live so that the public can see what occurs in my courtroom. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Michigan District Courts The success of my prior judicial campaign is a demonstration of my work ethic and viability as a judicial candidate. color: white; .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 Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. $0 Total Expenditures.

} .widget-row { margin-bottom: 0; hb```lw@(qour@x{/JM J?4X~@Q9HHt0p40t04p0h4p`5DXKEBY'3 3z0Md\4))1Sy8nIc(uK3 D8K_c` 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. Nevertheless, I think this is something the courts should establish. background-color: green; Incumbent. The 17th Circuit Court is a circuit court in Michigan that encompasses Kent County. from the University of Cincinnati. There is also bias with regards to sentencing. text-align: center; Michigan Court of Appeals The judicial system exists to help with order and it is difficult for the public/community to have confidence in the judicial system without some measurable accountability. Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. Denenfeld was re-elected in 2010 and 2016. } To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. The Court's activities are divided into the following functions: 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 [3] Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term. Marable Jr.: There are access issues for low-and moderate-income users to our courts. background-color: #f9f9f9; } However, I think this critical to allow for continuous quality improvement and to ensure that the judicial system is helping to meet the goals of the community. 17th Circuit Court, Michigan. Better decisions are made when theres an understanding of the person you are making a decision regarding. Weier: I am dedicated and hard working. .widget-row.heading { election law stipulates that in instances where a candidate for Court of Appeals Judge, Circuit Court Judge, District Court Judge, or Probate Court Judge seeks election in a district where . 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. "We conclude that the relevant charter sections failure to specify that time in office before the 2020 amendment will be counted does not make them ambiguous. width: 57%; That term-limit situation was a seesaw battle through the courts with expedited appeals. background-color: #f9d334; background-color: red; I have represented clients in every type of case litigated in District Court. Using tools such as Alternate Dispute Resolution and Mediation the courts can encourage participants to work to resolve their differences earlier in the process, saving them time, money and stress. Heres a look at how the candidates responded to questions on some key issues. In addition, I am the only candidate who has quasi-judicial experience. She is a former member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint Board of Directors. The judges additionally hold bi-weekly meetings to ensure we are meeting the needs of our citizens and addressing any issues that may arise. If you are interested in receiving MAJ's endorsement please go to our candidate endorsement page. 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. Additionally, Denenfeld has been an adjunct professor at Cooley Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, Michigan State University/Detroit College of Law, Wayne State University, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. [3] Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term. Access to the court system and monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of the court should be available to everyone. background-color: white; To your knowledge, have the courts established any benchmarks to determine if they are effectively meeting the needs of their jurisdiction? Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. Marsh: I think that the judicial system needs to always be representative of the people it is serving. If elected, I would continue this practice as it benefits all involved. Courts must be accessible to all whether you are rich or poor. Marable Jr.: I will bring experience, fairness, commitment, integrity, and diligence to the Circuit Court bench. Judge Sima Patel* CIRCUIT COURT. Hammon: The greatest challenge to justice and public accountability of all governmental units is transparency. ", He said the administration "has been playing games with term limits for over a decade. I would plan to stagger the appearances in my courtroom so that all parties could more efficiently plan their days. All rights reserved (About Us). endstream endobj startxref There is no substitute for the community and legal experience I bring to the courtroom. 1.1 Judges; 1.2 Former judges; 1.3 See also; 1.4 External links; 2 Elections. Judge Christina Elmore was elected to the 17th Circuit Court and began her term on January 1, 2019. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. She received a bachelors degree, graduating Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan and received her juris doctorate from Michigan State University. To be elected to either of these courts, a judge must:[3]. Many of the Courts are streamlining and lessening the amount of Court appearances. Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2023, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2022, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2021, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2020, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2019, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2018, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2017, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2016, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=17th_Circuit_Court,_Michigan&oldid=9037092, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. Subscribeto the Free Press. Similar crimes should warrant similar sentences but this does not always occur. Marsh received an associates degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude, from Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek. We need to have judges who will fight the status quo. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; Ballotpedia features 408,485 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Court Judge file with the Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections, P.O. In Genesee Circuit Court (7th Circuit Court), Genesee District Judge Harman Marable Jr. is running against attorney Chris Christensen while in Genesee District Court (67th District) races, Judge Jessica Hammon faces attorney Dawn Weier in the 2nd Division, and attorneys Torchio Feaster and Tabitha Marsh are seeking the open seat in the 5th Division. .widget-row.Libertarian { 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. display: inline-block; Please, 100 largest cities in America by population, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2016, Local trial court judicial elections, 2016, Michigan Trial Courts Directory: Kent County, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paul_Denenfeld&oldid=7280132, Michigan circuit court judges, 17th Circuit, Successful Michigan judicial candidates, 2010, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. border:1px solid #FFB81F; This will help eliminate issues with implicit bias, racism, and sexism. A primary election occurred on August 2, 2016. 22nd (Washtenaw Co) -Marla Linderman Richelew*, 45th District Court - Judge Michelle Freidman Appel, Yes on Prop 1: Voters for Transparency and Term Limits, Yes on Prop 2:Right to Voting Policies Amendment, Yes on Prop 3:Right to Reproductive Freedom, 325 S. Walnut Street [5], If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. Weier: The State Court Administrators Office monitors the judges dockets to ensure they are running efficiently. [3], Denenfeld holds a B.A. I would utilize my experience from leading community organizations and volunteering to forge partnerships with groups that would help make offenders in my court less likely to return to crime and more likely to evolve into productive members of society. [1], Michigan held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. Candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions. He took office on August 10, 2009.Denenfeld was re-elected in 2010 and 2016. She is on the MIDC arraignment team and has represented defendants on misdemeanor and felony warrants and misdemeanor cases through trial. The 221 judges of the Michigan Circuit Courts are selected in an identical manner, each serving six-year terms. background-color: #f9f9f9; Michigan District Courts Feaster: The system has failed the community in many ways from jurors to sentencing. 26. Michigan District Courts I created the City of Flints Blight Court and I have served as the Blight Court Judge. But City Attorney Ethan Vinson issued an opinion that the 2020 term limits did not bar Fouts from running for a fifth term. Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. At the end of the day, it is critical that justice and Constitutional rights are not sacrificed in this changing environment. .widget-row.value-only.black { Candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions. Jeff Schroder, an attorney representing the City Council, said "we're very pleased with the court's decision because it upheld the will of the voters who approved a term limit amendment by over 67% of the vote in 2020. If not, should they be put in place and shared? Candidates have until Tuesday to file for office and until April 28 to withdraw. width: 250px; Michigan Circuit Court .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; Ballotpedia features 408,485 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Denenfeld holds a B.A. You cannot adequately understand where a person is today without understanding where they came from. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties. In addition, the judicial system could work harder to reduce recidivism. Marable Jr.: As a Flint District Judge, we faced 2 financial emergencies for our funding source, (City of Flint) many mid-year budget cuts, staff layoffs and the elimination of Probation services. Results Final. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. margin-top: 1px; This makes it extremely difficult for the Court to get through the volume of cases before it. color: black; [4] Incumbent Paul Denenfeld and incumbent George Jay Quist were unopposed in the 17th Circuit general election (2 open seats). width: 100%; Hammon: The 67th District Court, with the assistance of the State Court Administrators office conducts yearly audits that are available to the public. I also will continue to support the use of free or low-cost mediation as a means for litigants to resolve their issues. Access to justice for those who can not afford legal services or for those that have disabilities is equally important to ensure that the court system is fair to all that wish to use it. This is the reason that I suggested that judges attend community forums and events.

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