We as the judiciary must strive to make all things we do transparent to all. Why? [3], Denenfeld holds a B.A. Jail overcrowding has long been an issue as many with felony warrants are not lodged at the Genesee County Jail. 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. Heres a look at how the candidates responded to questions on some key issues. I hear cases on blight and enforce city ordinances designed to eliminate our citys blight problem. Similar crimes should warrant similar sentences but this does not always occur. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. font-weight: bold; YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. } 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. ", 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. font-size: 1.2em; April 13, 2020 . Weier: I believe the greatest challenge to justice/public accountability is moving court cases forward in a timely fashion. 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. 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. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should not be considered as an endorsement. .widget-row.value-only { margin-bottom:0px; width: 100%; 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]. The candidates are (from top left) Chris Christenson, Herman Marable Jr., Jessica Hammon, Dawn Weier, Torchio Feaster, and Tabitha Marsh. Endorsements for all offices are voted on by the Executive Board. But City Attorney Ethan Vinson issued an opinion that the 2020 term limits did not bar Fouts from running for a fifth term. I am also a sharp and effective communicator with strong leadership and interpersonal skills. 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. [4] Incumbent Paul Denenfeld and incumbent George Jay Quist were unopposed in the 17th Circuit general election (2 open seats). 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. font-weight: bold; from the University of Cincinnati. Results Final. In general, circuit courts handle all civil cases with claims of more than $25,000 and all felony criminal cases. In addition, I am the only candidate who has quasi-judicial experience. This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. He has been a member of the Genesee County Democratic Party, Genesee County Democratic Black Caucus, NAACP and Urban League of Flint. Stage. Support local journalism. color: white; font-weight: bold; Making fair decisions as a judge is truly a skill that takes years to develop. Incumbent judicial address withheld . The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Warren Mayor Jim Fouts is not eligible to run this year for another term. border:1px solid #FFB81F; vertical-align: top; If you are interested in receiving MAJ's endorsement please email Executive Director Steve Pontoni at spontoni@michiganjustice.org. Jim Fouts ineligible to seek 5th term as Warren mayor, Michigan Court There is no substitute for the community and legal experience I bring to the courtroom. 0 She was the Pro-Bono Attorney of the Year for Legal Services of Eastern Michigan and provided at least 100 hours of documented pro-bono service to low income individuals and families in 2019. Michigan Circuit Court 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. 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. Feaster has a bachelors degree from Eastern Michigan University and received his juris doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law. It would not be the first time the Michigan Supreme Court took up a case pertaining to term limits in Warren. The Court's activities are divided into the following functions: .widget-row.Green { I am comfortable leading in a variety of settings. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. . .widget-row.Republican { 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. Such specialty courts are a great tool to help our citizens learn to better themselves and contribute to our society. 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). display: inline-block; Michigan Court of Appeals Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Updated: 09/09/2022@05:00 PM Candidates: 621 Remaining: 618 Races . There are a substantial number of cases in the Courts, especially in Genesee County. font-weight: bold; width: 250px; The 17th Circuit Court is a circuit court in Michigan . The judges additionally hold bi-weekly meetings to ensure we are meeting the needs of our citizens and addressing any issues that may arise. Courts must be accessible to all whether you are rich or poor. To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. word-wrap: break-word; The judges in the 67th District Court meet frequently to discuss issues concerning the Court and its procedures. To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. All rights reserved. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties. [3], Qualifications A primary election occurred on August 2, 2016. The council has achieved a TKO in denying a competitive election in November. The impact of COVID on the justice system will require new methods of operating for safety and efficiency. Christenson: The Supreme Court Administrator does set and track benchmarks for courts to follow however, the information is not easily ascertainable. f. 517.321.4694, {{#if featuredimages.homepage}} {{featuredimages.homepage.url}}{{else}} /userassets/MI/MI/userimages/DefaultBlogImage.jpeg{{/if}}. I will not have to learn how to be a judge. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. hb```lw@(qour@x{/JM J?4X~@Q9HHt0p40t04p0h4p`5DXKEBY'3 3z0Md\4))1Sy8nIc(uK3 D8K_c` This is more efficient, reduces costs, lessens court appearances and litigants do not have to miss as much work. %PDF-1.6 % [3], Qualifications background-color: #f9f9f9; Subscribeto the Free Press. 738 W. Grand River Ave, Suite N The 221 judges of the Michigan Circuit Courts are selected in an identical manner, each serving six-year terms. Overview; Michigan; Races; Michigan 17th District Court; Data through 12/31/2022 Michigan 17th District Court 2022 Election Season $0 Total Contributions. We can do a better job of keeping the public informed by making information about the process of the courts readily available. 3rd (Wayne) - John C. Gillis* 3rd (Wayne) - Nicholas Hathaway* 6th (Oakland) - Amanda Shelton* 10th (Saginaw) - Megan Cottington-Heath. If you are interested in receiving MAJ's endorsement please go to our candidate endorsement page. All rights reserved (About Us). As a Flint District Judge for 20 years, and 9 years as a prosecutor, I have more experience than any other candidate. This is not necessarily what the State Court Administrators Office is paying attention to. Judge Sima Patel* CIRCUIT COURT. Feaster: I respect Flints rich history and I have dedicated my career to contributing to its future. Lastly, we need to be proactive about how to address the generation that was poisoned by lead. All judicial candidates are interviewed by the MAJ Judicial Qualifications Committee. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. [3] Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term. 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. 16th (Macomb) - Judge Teri Lynn Dennings. 17th Circuit Court - Kent County, Michigan 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; } } They are chosen in nonpartisan elections and must face re-election if they wish to continue serving. Michigan Circuit Court Judge Christina Elmore was elected to the 17th Circuit Court and began her term on January 1, 2019. $0 Total Expenditures. .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 Michigan Court of Appeals "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. More:4 of Warren's longest serving councilmen knocked off ballot again. Christenson was raised in Flint and lives in Grand Blanc. There are 14 judges currently sitting on the 17th Circuit. 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. } color: white; She is a certified civil mediator and received the Genesee County Bar Associations Brian M. Barkey Community Service Award earlier this year. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I am also highly organized, extremely detail-oriented, and able to work on multiple projects and transactions simultaneously. What do you perceive as the greatest challenge(s) to justice/public accountability? 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. We should review these benchmarks quarterly and make adjustments. .widget-value { width: 250px; Court Judge file with the Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections, P.O. 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. Hammon: I previously worked as the attorney representative in the Adolescent Recovery Court. I have represented clients in every type of case litigated in District Court. We can go a long way to restoring the confidence in the court system by being completely transparent and showcasing the integrity of the courts. [4], The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the state supreme court to two-year terms. background-color: grey; 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. Phone Directory . A more consequential date, if the Michigan Supreme Court takes up the appeal, would come within the next few months. Michigan 17th District Court Election - Transparency USA width: 150px; .widget-row.Libertarian { The supreme court may authorize persons who have been elected and served as judges to perform judicial duties for limited periods or specific assignments. Weier: The State Court Administrators Office monitors the judges dockets to ensure they are running efficiently. Marsh received an associates degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude, from Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek. State Candidates & Proposals - Michigan 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. But the Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court's decision and ruled in favor of the City Council. She has been an attorney for nearly 19 years and has handled all types of cases litigated in Genesee District Court. We cannot ignore the social unrest that is taking place in our nation at this time. color: white;

float:right; I have been fully engaged in the community, and that connection has made me a better and more effective judge. 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-weight: bold; 	background-color: #f9f9f9;  The Circuit Court ruled in favor of City Clerk Sonja Buffa and the Warren Election Commission, which . The term runs from November 2023 until November 2027. endstream
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 2.1 Selection method. Lawrence Garcia, an attorney representing the city clerk and Warren Election Commission, had no comment on the ruling. COVID is a watershed event that will force changes that will impact our courts indefinitely. If not, should they be put in place and shared? Box 20126, . 17th Circuit Court, 61st District Court, Probate Court 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 632-5220 Health. 	display: inline-block; 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. 	margin-bottom: 0; How could the judicial system better serve the public - in cost, in service, and/or in outcomes? Christina Elmore.  2023 Advance Local Media LLC. .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { 2022 Michigan Official General Candidate Listing - 11/08/2022 I believe a judge having compassion and understanding is essential. Denenfeld, Paul J. The current jury system disenfranchises poor people, the elderly, and those who are not technologically savvy. To your knowledge, have the courts established any benchmarks to determine if they are effectively meeting the needs of their jurisdiction? To be elected to either of these courts, a judge must:[3]. I have more than 18 years experience being an attorney. I believe that any studies, assessments or audits should always be available to the public. This begins by providing the public with the tools to confirm that fair and equal justice apply to everyone. I also will continue to support the use of free or low-cost mediation as a means for litigants to resolve their issues. 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. District courts have jurisdiction in civil matters where the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000. Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Southeast MI Office: [1], .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } PDF FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-INCUMBENT JUDICIAL CANDIDATES - michigan.gov Candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions. I believe in treating people fairly and with respect. 	font-size: .9em; All candidates for Michigan House and Senate, regardless of party, are invited to return a questionnaire and apply for an endorsement. 	background-color: #f9d334; } This decision, once again, corrects their unlawful actions." Marable Jr.: There are access issues for low-and moderate-income users to our courts. In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. } .widget-row.value-only.white { Access to justice is a must to ensure accountability. 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. Many of the Courts are streamlining and lessening the amount of Court appearances. Community forums are a way to help establish the benchmarks and gauge whether or not what is being done is effective. The 221 judges of the . } 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. } Incumbent. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} 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 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. She received a bachelors degree, graduating Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan and received her juris doctorate from Michigan State University.  2023 www.freep.com. } 	width: 57%; The candidate filing deadline for incumbents was March 21, and the deadline for non-incumbents was April 19. MAJ Endorsements - The Michigan Association for Justice The courts need to stay relevant to the times. Explain your goals.