[5], If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. Fouts said Warren residents should be able to decide who will be mayor. I am comfortable leading in a variety of settings. .widget-row.Libertarian { Stage. color: black; The 17th Circuit Court is a circuit court in Michigan . Results Final. . I have served as a volunteer mediator and contributed countless hours of pro bono work. I have strong morals and ethics, integrity, and I am naturally energetic, involved, and visible. COVID is a watershed event that will force changes that will impact our courts indefinitely. I would work to avoid bias and ensure equity in my sentencing. Michigan Circuit Court Hammon: The 67th District Court, with the assistance of the State Court Administrators office conducts yearly audits that are available to the public. 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. Christina Elmore. What do you perceive as the greatest challenge(s) to justice/public accountability? Feaster has a bachelors degree from Eastern Michigan University and received his juris doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law. 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. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. The 17th Circuit Court is a circuit court in Michigan that encompasses Kent County. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. .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 Marsh: I think that the judicial system needs to always be representative of the people it is serving. 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. That term-limit situation was a seesaw battle through the courts with expedited appeals. The 221 judges of the Michigan Circuit Courts are selected in an identical manner, each serving six-year terms. Nevertheless, I think this is something the courts should establish. margin: auto; Marable Jr.: There are access issues for low-and moderate-income users to our courts. 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. Knowing a persons history sheds light on their environment, nurturing (or lack thereof), adequacies, inadequacies, gifts, talents, struggles, family, etc. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The candidates are (from top left) Chris Christenson, Herman Marable Jr., Jessica Hammon, Dawn Weier, Torchio Feaster, and Tabitha Marsh. He was appointed to this position by Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm on July 22, 2009, to succeed Steven Mitchell Pestka. Christenson: The Supreme Court Administrator does set and track benchmarks for courts to follow however, the information is not easily ascertainable. 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. All candidates for Michigan House and Senate, regardless of party, are invited to return a questionnaire and apply for an endorsement. Explain your goals. . Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. He graduated from Flint Southwestern Academy and received a bachelors degree from the University of Michigan-Flint and juris doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. .widget-row.Democratic { Heres a look at how the candidates responded to questions on some key issues. Sec. .infobox p { Working with state court officials, we must use virtual technology, specialty dockets, and other tools to serve the public. 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. from the University of Cincinnati. hbbd```b`` TD29`5O?`r-X}&Mo9OI_ vH/c];9D2H-`z R*lJ q g We cannot ignore the social unrest that is taking place in our nation at this time. You cannot adequately understand where a person is today without understanding where they came from. background-color: green; The judges additionally hold bi-weekly meetings to ensure we are meeting the needs of our citizens and addressing any issues that may arise. This begins by providing the public with the tools to confirm that fair and equal justice apply to everyone.
} Further, the 67th District Court has a website where information about the Court is accessible to the public at any time. The judges in the 67th District Court meet frequently to discuss issues concerning the Court and its procedures. I am also of the opinion that, absent unusual circumstances, cases should progress through the legal system in a timely manner. background-color: grey; I believe a judge having compassion and understanding is essential. font-weight: bold; I also will continue to support the use of free or low-cost mediation as a means for litigants to resolve their issues. Feaster: As far as I know there are not established benchmarks to evaluate the effectiveness of meeting the needs of the jurisdiction. Lansing, MI 48933 Courts must be accessible to all whether you are rich or poor. display: block; Judges make decisions about peoples lives daily. I hear cases on blight and enforce city ordinances designed to eliminate our citys blight problem. Better decisions are made when theres an understanding of the person you are making a decision regarding. The courts have 10 elected judges, four appointed magistrates, nine probation officers and a staff of 50 employees. 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. Marsh received an associates degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude, from Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. background-color: white; 738 W. Grand River Ave, Suite N Michigan Court of Appeals width: 43%; I have been fully engaged in the community, and that connection has made me a better and more effective judge. The 17th Circuit Court is a circuit court in Michigan that encompasses Kent County. .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { 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. I am also highly organized, extremely detail-oriented, and able to work on multiple projects and transactions simultaneously. background-color: #f9d334; Making fair decisions as a judge is truly a skill that takes years to develop. f. 517.321.4694, {{#if featuredimages.homepage}} {{featuredimages.homepage.url}}{{else}} /userassets/MI/MI/userimages/DefaultBlogImage.jpeg{{/if}}. They argued that Fouts is ineligible to run because of term limits approved by voters in 2020. Box 20126, . 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Each court typically publishes related data on a dashboard on court websites for public view as required and monitored by SCAO. Christenson was raised in Flint and lives in Grand Blanc. .widget-row.value-only { [1], Prior to joining the court, Denenfeld was an attorney with LaGrand & Denenefld. Weier: The State Court Administrators Office monitors the judges dockets to ensure they are running efficiently. Weier: I believe the greatest challenge to justice/public accountability is moving court cases forward in a timely fashion. We need to have judges who will fight the status quo. ", He said the administration "has been playing games with term limits for over a decade. .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 Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I am also a sharp and effective communicator with strong leadership and interpersonal skills. It did so in 2019, making a ruling in June of that year that four veteran councilmen's names were to be off the primary ballot, reversing a Court of Appeals ruling that would have allowed the four names to be on the ballot. margin-bottom:0px; display: inline-block; Please explain. The following background information was provided by each candidate. [3] Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term. She was formerly on the public defender list, representing hundreds of defendants in felony cases. She is a Soup Kitchen volunteer and a Red Cross blood donor. Support local journalism. Weier: I am dedicated and hard working. My length of time as an attorney coupled with my experience in District Court qualifies me for this position. All judicial candidates are interviewed by the MAJ Judicial Qualifications Committee. Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter. Weier: One issue that I have experienced as an attorney representing clients, is the client misses work and as a result, loses income. Candidates have until Tuesday to file for office and until April 28 to withdraw. I would plan to stagger the appearances in my courtroom so that all parties could more efficiently plan their days. Ballotpedia does not currently cover this office or maintain this page. 2023 www.freep.com. Hammon is a graduate of Atherton High School, the University of Michigan Flint and Ann Arbor campuses and Ave Maria School of Law. Access to the court system and monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of the court should be available to everyone. Endorsements for all offices are voted on by the Executive Board. Statewide Governor; . 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. $0 Total Expenditures. Schroder said he believes the "real problem" is the city attorney, who he said "keeps writing bogus legal opinions and putting his thumb on the scale so the mayor gets the result he wants. 0 vertical-align: top; .widget-row.heading { Hammon: I have always valued justice, integrity, honesty, and contribution to my community. To your knowledge, have the courts established any benchmarks to determine if they are effectively meeting the needs of their jurisdiction? float: right; Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. 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. } Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. A primary election occurred on August 2, 2016. .clearfix { 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. 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. Incumbent. They argued that Fouts is ineligible to run because of term limits approved by voters in 2020. They are chosen in nonpartisan elections and must face re-election if they wish to continue serving. 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 . Denenfeld was re-elected in 2010 and 2016. "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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Phone Directory . Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Six candidates are vying for three judicial seats in contested races Nov. 3 in the county. As a Flint District Judge for 20 years, and 9 years as a prosecutor, I have more experience than any other candidate. 3116 0 obj <>stream 67th District courts are limited jurisdiction courts, authorized under state statute, with jurisdiction over Genesee County, including the City of Flint. } 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. color: white; background-color: #f9f9f9; 2.1 Selection method. What attributes/qualifications do you possess that make you the best choice for this court? .widget-key { Applicants may be interviewed by the MAJ Judicial Qualifications Committee. Marsh: I ran for judge in 2018 and I received 53,381 votes in that race. 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. This decision, once again, corrects their unlawful actions." More:4 of Warren's longest serving councilmen knocked off ballot again. 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). } .infobox { In Genesee Circuit Court (7th Circuit Court), Genesee District Judge Harman Marable . The candidate filing deadline for incumbents was March 21, and the deadline for non-incumbents was April 19. Denenfeld holds a B.A. ", He expressed doubt "that I can get a fair and objective legal opinion in this court and maybe beyond?". 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. 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. Article 6, 26 Circuit court commissioners and justices of the peace, abolition; courts of limited jurisdiction. In addition, the judicial system could work harder to reduce recidivism. This is not necessarily what the State Court Administrators Office is paying attention to. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} The impact of COVID on the justice system will require new methods of operating for safety and efficiency. She is a certified civil mediator and received the Genesee County Bar Associations Brian M. Barkey Community Service Award earlier this year. The success of my prior judicial campaign is a demonstration of my work ethic and viability as a judicial candidate. width: 250px; Fouts, Papandrea, City Council President Pat Green, state Rep. Lori Stone and Macomb County Commissioner Michelle Nard have filed to run for mayor. Feaster: I respect Flints rich history and I have dedicated my career to contributing to its future. Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. Hammon: I previously worked as the attorney representative in the Adolescent Recovery Court. 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. In addition, I am the only candidate who has quasi-judicial experience. 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. To be elected to either of these courts, a judge must:[3]. display: inline-block; She has been an attorney for nearly 19 years and has handled all types of cases litigated in Genesee District Court. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Warren Mayor Jim Fouts is not eligible to run this year for another term. This is the reason that I suggested that judges attend community forums and events. font-weight: bold; She received a bachelors degree, graduating Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan and received her juris doctorate from Michigan State University. 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. font-size: .9em; 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. 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. } 16th (Macomb) - Judge Teri Lynn Dennings. These metrics should be selected in conjunction with the community, reviewed on a biannual basis and shared with the public. %%EOF He took office on August 10, 2009.Denenfeld was re-elected in 2010 and 2016. background-color: red; He has worked as a licensed attorney for 13 years and was a Flint Blight Court judge for two years. .widget-row.Green { [1], Michigan held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. 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. endstream endobj startxref Vinsons opinion, which was accepted by the Warren Election Commission during an Election Day meeting in November, stated it was not clear that the ballot proposal approved by voters in 2020 should apply to Fouts. Michigan Circuit Court width: 57%; 17th Circuit Court, 61st District Court, Probate Court 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 632-5220 Health. Lawrence Garcia, an attorney representing the city clerk and Warren Election Commission, had no comment on the ruling. It would not be the first time the Michigan Supreme Court took up a case pertaining to term limits in Warren. District courts have jurisdiction in civil matters where the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000. Marsh: I believe that social injustice is the greatest challenge to justice. 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. Kent County, Michigan. Brighton, MI 48116 Michigan Court of Appeals For the first time ever, there are no judges who live in Flint (our largest city) on the Court, the entire county should be represented at the table. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} . Many of the Courts are streamlining and lessening the amount of Court appearances. 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. We can do a better job of keeping the public informed by making information about the process of the courts readily available. background-color: #f9f9f9; @D=@ -. But City Attorney Ethan Vinson issued an opinion that the 2020 term limits did not bar Fouts from running for a fifth term. 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. I created the City of Flints Blight Court and I have served as the Blight Court Judge. This is more efficient, reduces costs, lessens court appearances and litigants do not have to miss as much work. 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. Term-limit questions have appeared in ballot questions before Warren voters in 1998, 2016 and 2020. The Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) endorses candidates that will fight to protect the right to a civil trial by jury, and promote a fair and effective justice system. Marable Jr.: The State Court Administrators Office (SCAO) uses a benchmark system for Michigan courts. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties. In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. 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. Ballotpedia features 408,485 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. I have more than 18 years experience being an attorney. Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. font-weight: bold; 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. } Feaster: The current system demonstrates a lack of respect for the time of those participating in the legal process. .widget-row.value-only.white { There are 14 judges currently sitting on the 17th Circuit. font-weight: bold; Justice must be carried out in a fair and equal manner. Warren Mayor Jim Fouts eligible to be on city ballot, judge rules, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts files to run for 5th term despite term limit amendment, 4 of Warren's longest serving councilmen knocked off ballot again, Making Marrocco's home a prison: No TV, no parties, no golf, Trans male fencer Bobbie Hirsch is making history at Wayne State University, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. padding-left: 10px; Christenson: The court system must be more efficient and respectful of the publics time. In a process run by a county clerk, the candidates choose slips of paper from a box that say either "elected" or "not elected".[6]. 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. width: 150px; This year, MLive Media Group partnered with the League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information for readers. } text-align: center; } Candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions. His community involvement includes membership in the State Bar of Michigan, Genesee County Bar Association, and Genesee County Democratic Party Executive Committee. .widget-row { At the end of the day, it is critical that justice and Constitutional rights are not sacrificed in this changing environment. 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. [3] Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term. Michigan District Courts Court Judge file with the Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections, P.O. Previously, he was a director for the Institute for New Democracies for Uzbekistan and senior litigation counsel for the federal public defender office. 1 Circuit Court. width: 100%; Such specialty courts are a great tool to help our citizens learn to better themselves and contribute to our society. I have represented clients in every type of case litigated in District Court. from the University of Cincinnati. Macomb County Circuit Judge Joseph Toia wrote that "the evidence presented demonstrates that the ballot language and Charter are not clear on whether previous terms served are counted towards the current term limits." I will not have to learn how to be a judge. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. We as the judiciary must strive to make all things we do transparent to all. 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. 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. } In addition, we need bond reform to consistently address the issue of bond to ensure that people are not housed in the jail unnecessarily. Lastly, we need to be proactive about how to address the generation that was poisoned by lead. font-size: .9em; width: 250px; Candidates for three judicial races in Genesee County are pictured in these submitted photos. 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. In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. from Western Michigan University and a J.D. .top_disclaimer { margin-bottom: 0; [4], The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the state supreme court to two-year terms. In a process run by a county clerk, the candidates choose slips of paper from a box that say either "elected" or "not elected".[6]. He served as chairman of legal redress for the Michigan NAACP. 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; } We should review these benchmarks quarterly and make adjustments. The unrest comes from hundreds of years of institutional racism that has plagued our history. This will help eliminate issues with implicit bias, racism, and sexism. color: white; 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. 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.
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