washtenaw county district court judges
Cathy Hearn: So thats funded through the state taxation system? I enjoyed meeting you, [] As a prelude to Judge Valvos participation in the annual meeting, Cathy Hearn, a volunteer member of our newsletter team since 2017, interviewed the judge via Zoom in early March. I ran to retain that seat at the next election and was just re-elected this past November to a full six-year term. Judge Valvo: I want to be careful about it because even if I use a composite of three or four different people, someone is likely to think I am talking about them. The Court is funded with a grant from the State Court administrative office to help us pay for reward supplies, drug and alcohol testing, and the first two months of a stay in a transitional housing environment if thats needed. State and local courts | I am in awe with the amount of support I have received. Judge Simpson was appointed to the 14A Bench in September of 1999 and served as Chief Judge of the 14A District Court from January 2002 through December 2007. And so, in 2016 there was an opening on the 15th District Court bench in the city of Ann Arbor. http://14adistrictcourt.org/locations/14a-1/index_html, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER), 22nd Judicial Circuit Court Washtenaw County Juvenile Court, 14a 2 District Court Washtenaw County Ypsilanti. Change happens at the District Court level. It is one of 105 district courts in Michigan. Its been exciting to see some people become very stable and very healthy and give back as volunteer workers by becoming involved in support networks that are connected to the Court. But we do want to get back to in-person support and in-person contact with each other. Cathy Hearn: Right! U.S. Congress | Fawn Armstrong is the mother of a 13-year-old daughter, Ava, and the wife of criminal defense attorney, Christopher Shemke. a Department or Service an Employee See Something, Say Something - Make a Report View Board & Commission Documents Agendas She believes in service tempered by compassion and understanding. Judge Valvo: The first thing you have to have is a judge whos willing to do the work to start the court and to preside over the court. They have to have a diagnosed mental illness or service-related trauma or substance use issue. Appeals from the Eastern District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. 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. The team consists of the probation officer; a CMH representative, therapist, psychiatrist, and caseworker; and a peer support person, all of whom work with us through the liaison person to be available to the defendant. The treatment team professionals do the analysis and make recommendations about the treatment that needs to be provided, and then the different team members each work in their own areas of expertise. For instance, if it was a theft, the person might have to go to a class to develop their awareness about the impact of stealing from other people. Cathy Hearn: Very well, thank you, how are you doing? We used to have a party every time someone graduated, with cakes and cupcakes for everybody in the courtroom, to celebrate that person. Bachelor's Michigan State University, 1978 Law Wayne State University, 1981 Kirk Tabbey is a district court judge for the 14A District Court in Washtenaw County, Michigan. If the person has a diagnosable mental illness that is serious enough to need treatment and was likely to have led to the criminal behavior they were engaged in, then the team makes an agreement to have them come in and serve their probation under the supervision of the mental health court team. The Supreme Court has appointed Judge Karen Quinlan Valvo to serve as Chief Judge of the 15th District Court for the City of Ann Arbor for the term beginning January 1, 2022 and ending December 31, 2023. We were able to do a lot more concrete affirmation when we were meeting in person. *county-courthouse.com is not affiliated with the Official US Government, or any state, local, or federal office. The 15th Judicial District Court has a duty to the citizens of the City of Ann Arbor and to the State of Michigan to collect all unpaid fines, costs, and fees. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Four Washtenaw County attorneys are vying for a chance to be the next 14A District Court Judge in the upcoming Aug. 2 primary. The 22nd Circuit Court is the Michigan Circuit Court that presides over Washtenaw County in Michigan. She is a bonafide advocate for fair representation, is committed to justice, and is incredibly passionate about community and will strive to preserve its safety. Conlin has served since 1995 but is unable to seek re-election in 2020 due to the 70-year age limit for judges in Michigan. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Sanctions are tailored specifically to the capabilities of each person, their challenges and why its challenging. Well, lets move on to my first question. Vote Armstrong for District Court watch real change happen. *county-courthouse.com is not affiliated with the Official US Government, or any state, local, or federal office. Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Thats been very effective for our veterans. *Not location specific. U.S. Congress | Ballot measures, Who represents me? 101 East Huron Street, Ann Arbor, MI48107 Changes to court dockets are constantly occurring. How to run for office | An Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, decorated US Army veteran, long-time Washtenaw County resident, and loving mother and wife, Fawn Armstrong embodies all of the qualities needed to effectively serve the people of Washtenaw County. Cathy Hearn: A question I have is where does the funding come from, because I would imagine that lots of these folks come from situations where they dont have access to good insurance. I guess what Im wondering about is the levers that would need to be pulled to make it possible for this kind of court in the first place. Thanks for being a part of #teamArmstrong! *Please call to verify. Are there ways that your involvement in the Mental Health Treatment Court has affected your work on the District Court or the Veterans Treatment Court? Two special elections were also called for partial terms ending on January 1, 2027. If someone is struggling, the treatment team will re-evaluate whatever treatment has been recommended to see if it needs to be changed, to see if theyve been given too much to do, or not enough to do, or if they need a different kind of treatment, or perhaps they might not be as faithful with medication as we had hoped, and they might need more encouragement. He was appointed to the court by former Governor John Engler on April 3, 1997, to replace former Judge Patrick J. Conlin. Sometimes people kick and scream all the way to the end of the goal line, and then they come back at the end and say I was hating you while you were making me do it, I didnt want to do it, you didnt give up on me, thank you for making me do it, and so on. The presumption is going to be that we do not send people to jail for most crimes that are misdemeanors and that we take time to do a very individually tailored probation plan that would assist that person. Yard Waste & Leaves Home Toxics Compost, Appliances, Scrap Metal, etc. Judge Valvo: Im happy to. Counties | Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. NAMI will be closed for the holidays on December 24, 25 & 31 and January 1. All rights reserved (About Us). 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). Judge Richard Conlin has announced his early retirement from his position on the 14A District Court, which handles civil cases, traffic infractions and some criminal misdemeanors in Washtenaw County. And obviously, NAMI participates with us. Then we would see them back again. Its been exciting to see people turn their lives around. Judge Barr Judge Barr was elected to the bench in November 2022. Washtenaw County Probate Court 101 East Huron Street, Room 314 0.0 mile away. She is taking over the seat of current District Judge Charles Pope, who is retiring at the end of 2020. Meet candidates for judge on the Washtenaw County Trial Court (the 22nd Circuit Court of Michigan) and Democratic primrary candidates for the newly-redrawn 1. These treatment courts are starting all over the country, and Ive taken training from some of them. Typically, it would include some fines and costs and community service, and perhaps some type of education. One of her responsibilities included training law enforcement agencies in Washtenaw County. Being District Court Judge is an amazing opportunity to really make a difference in people's lives. The 15th District Court where I sit covers misdemeanor crimes, so for most cases there is a maximum possibility of one year in jail, plus fines and costs. Cathy Hearn: So this could be done in any state, but it does help to have a Supreme Court. Elections in 2023 | I have always believed that compassion and fairness go hand-in-hand when it comes to the justice system, and a qualified judge needs both to ignite genuine change in peoples lives. [4], If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. We give a lot of incentives to people who are trying hard to work their plan and are successfully working their plan. 100 largest cities in America by population, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, Michigan Fifteenth Judicial District Court, 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=Washtenaw_County,_Michigan_(Judicial)&oldid=7674745, 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. Every person in the Veterans Treatment Court follows the basic structure that I just talked about, with phases and voluntarily coming in. [1], What's on my ballot? A retired Ingham County judge has determined that Washtenaw County district court Judge J. Cedric Simpson acted improperly on all counts alleged by the Michigan Judicial Tenure. Theyre just not well and they dont know how to take care of themselves without intervention. To inquire about existing cases please visit the 14A District Court Case Search website. Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. We believe our membership will be very interested in learning about diversion from the traditional prison system to the treatment court, how the process works, the plans for the future, and the ways in which NAMI WC members can support the program. For a complete look at election results in Washtenaw County, click here. I supported him in his career, and we had four children fairly close together. YPSILANTI TWP., MI - Voters have selected Erane Washington to serve as the next 14B District Court Judge following the Nov. 3 General Election. Most of all, she believes in service above self which will guide the discharge of her duties as the next 14A District Court Judge. State executives | Judge Valvo succeeds Judge Joseph F. Burke who has served as the Court's Chief Judge since January 1, 2016. The people of Washtenaw County are served by the Michigan Third District Court of Appeals, a circuit court, district court, and probate court. With 100 percent of Washtenaw Countys ballots being counted as of 3:29 a.m., Nov. 4, Washington won the judicial seat with 63.39 percent of the total votes, or 14,494 votes compared to 8,257 votes cast for her opponent, current 14B Court Administrator and Magistrate Mark Nelson. He currently presides at the 14A-2 District Court in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The administrative staff works with the judge to make sure they have all the right pieces. Registration is required (www.namiwc.org). She is the oldest of six children and they grew up on a dirt road in Marine City, MI. This search will yield results from all four of our courts. Judge Perry is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Washtenaw County Bar Association, Michigan District Judges Association, Association of Black Judges of Michigan, American Judges Association, Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Womens Lawyers Association of Michigan, NAACP, Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Cathy Hearn: I know that you covered your transition through from family law and the connections with your own family life and that youre interested in that area. Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Washtenaw County, Civil, General Civil - Unlimited, General Civil - Limited, Small Claims, Complex Commercial, Foreclosures and Liens, Real Estate Title and Boundary, Criminal, Mental Health, Phone Number: 734-973-4545 Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. The court also has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court over cases involving misdemeanors, civil disputes involving amounts up to $25,000, and landlord-tenant disputes. This search will yield results from all four of our courts. During her ten years of practicing law in all district courts in the county, Fawns passion to give her work meaning and her commitment to stand by her beliefs has only grown stronger. Its all one person who triages for them and is part of the team. How to vote | If they are found guilty of the crime or if they dont ask for a trial and decide to plead guilty to a crime, the next step is for the judge to sentence the person to the appropriate consequence for the crime that theyve committed. I personally appreciate it, and I know the NAMI WC members appreciate it as well. (I should have said earlier, we also have a prosecutor and a defense attorney on our team.) The court is presided over by three judges: the Honorable Joseph F. Burke, the Honorable Miriam A. Perry and the Honorable Karen Quinlan Valvo. Judge Valvo: Yes, a little. As someone who works in education, its taken me a few years to get used to it. Most of all, she believes in service above self which will guide the discharge of her duties as the next 14A District Court Judge. But we dont send people to prison from the district court. Judge Valvo: Well, you first have to have a local judge who wants to do it, as Ive described. Honorable Patrick J. Conlin They live in Saline (Pittsfield Twp) with their three dogs Rogue, Mika, and Wyatt and their cat, Oona. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. One of the challenges that people had before the pandemic was getting to the courthouse to meet with the Court and be with each other every other week, and to meet with a probation office every week. Some people dont have video capability, so all were hearing is their voice. Ballot measures, Who represents me? She is a bonafide advocate for fair representation, is committed to justice, and is incredibly passionate about community and will strive to preserve its safety. We have colored stones that have inspirational words engraved on them. Cathy Hearn: It sounds like youve been in the area for a really long time. The interview transcript has been edited for clarity and flow. The goal is to provide them with the tools to manage their mental health so that they do not see the criminal system again. Magistrate Cameron covers our Chelsea traffic docket as Friday afternoon arraignments. Judge Valvo was chosen to be the guest speaker at this meeting because she presides over the specialized Mental Health Treatment Court and Veterans Treatment Court dockets. I finished law school in 1997 when I was 43 years old and then started practice in Washtenaw County in different areas of law. Cathy Hearn: Thanks so much for making time for this interview. Were very resource rich. District courts are responsible for hearing cases involving small claims, traffic, landlord/tenant issues, civil matters under $25,000, and misdemeanor criminal charges. 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. Upcoming Events: July 20, 2022 - Washtenaw County Democratic Party Candidate Forum July 23, 2022 - Heart to Hearts Candidate Forum Public policy. Hours: Open Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. So, you need a judge whos able and willing to spend time developing a team and then applying for the grant to the State Court and going through the training certification process that the Supreme Court has set up for us. To serve on this court, a judge must be a qualified elector of the district, licensed to practice law in the state, under the age of 70, and have five years of experience practicing law. *Please call to verify. State legislature | A District Court Judge that Washtenaw County Deserves. I was wondering if you were able to share any anecdotes from your time serving on the Mental Health Treatment Court. Counties | Its quite a bit more work than what I would call our routine dockets. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Its a voluntary participation. [3] The elections for this court are nonpartisan contested elections. Judge Valvo: Well, good. Thats pretty much the core team that we have. Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. And I think another big way to help is the education component, educating the Community about mental illness and what it means to live a productive life with a mental illness, helping to drive down the stigma. Located in Pittsfield Township, The 14A-1 District Court presides over Pittsfield Township for all Criminal Misdemeanor and Civil Infraction (traffic cases). | Is any of the above incorrect? There is always the need for more education about the fact that you know its an illness that needs to be managed every day for the rest of your life. Michigan's 14A District Court is located in Washtenaw County and serves all cities within county limits except for Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Township. YPSILANTI TWP., MI Voters have selected Erane Washington to serve as the next 14B District Court Judge following the Nov. 3 General Election. Ann Arbor, MI 48104, Nearest bus line: 33 Summit & Brooks stop. The Washtenaw County Democratic Party held its final endorsement meeting via Zoom on Monday, September 21st to endorse additional candidates for the November 2020 General Election. We have mandatory trainings every year, the whole team. Washtenaw County, All civil cases at law over $300., Civil cases in equity., Proceedings in habeas corpus., Felonies and misdemeanors, Proceedings in quo warranto., Prohibition and certiorari cases., Appeals from magistrate court, municipal court, and administrative agenc, Phone Number: 734-222-3270 Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? Washtenaw County Service Center, 4133 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor, MI48107 Judge Valvo: I think if I say anymore, I wont have anything to say on March 27! Call, or visit the court's website if listed above. The nine seats were up for nonpartisan election on November 8, 2022. [1] Judges David Swartz (Chief judge) Archie Cameron Brown Pat Conlin Timothy Connors Carol Kuhnke [2] Former judges Donald Shelton See also Washtenaw County, Michigan Michigan Circuit Court Courts in Michigan External links An Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, decorated US Army veteran, long-time Washtenaw County resident, and loving mother and wife, Fawn Armstrong embodies all of the qualities needed to effectively serve the people of Washtenaw County. Website: http://14adistrictcourt.org/locations/14a-1/index_html, Staff: J. Cedric Simpson, Richard E. Conlin, Kirk W. Tabbey. State executives | State legislature | Archie Brown Cities | I find, and have said this publicly, that working with the veterans court is easier in a way because all of the services are provided in one place, and its right down the street from the courthouse. Restorative justice would entail using communication between offenders and victims to repair the harm caused by criminal behavior, Washington said. That would be a big change in Washtenaw County, but it is something that were actively discussing right now with judges from the Circuit Court. I moved here from Buffalo, New York, when I was 21. Fawn is currently assigned to Circuit Court handling felony matters. I think its very likely that well continue to do some meetings by Zoom just for everybodys convenience. Cathy Hearn: The importance of peer support is reminding me of the Alcoholics Anonymous model. They may start to feel like theyve been stable for a long time, so they can forget about self-care. One of the areas that developed pretty strongly for me was family law. Note- when Courtroom A, B or C is referenced, these cases will appear at 14A-1 Service Center. There is also one appointed magistrate, the Honorable Tamara Garwood. Judge Valvo: Its here to stay. My predecessor had just started a Veterans Treatment Court and a Mental Health Treatment Court. In a process run by a county clerk, the candidates choose slips of paper from a box that say either "elected" or "not elected".[5]. Just in general in the community, people tend to shy away from people who are obviously mentally ill or behaving badly, committing crimes. Veterans who have not been committing crimes will volunteer to mentor someone in our court for the whole time that person is on probation. We have done this, Washington said on her campaign Facebook Page. Washtenaw County Ann Arbor, Michigan. The mentor group is run by an associate professor at the University who is in the education school and is a veteran. Circuit Court before Hon. She believes in service tempered by compassion and understanding. If they have their own insurance, thats fine, but the CMH is funded through Medicaid. U.S. President | Id like to learn more about you as a person as well as your professional philosophy, in any order. If she knew someone was struggling, shed sit with them during the court hearing. Or we have them write a recommitment letter. I finished law school in 1997 when I was 43 years old and then started practice in Washtenaw County in different areas of law. Mailing Address: P.O. Judge Valvo: When we were meeting in person, we would have three to four people from NAMI in the courtroom at very docket. After we speak to all the Stars in the docket, everybody whos done almost everything they were supposed to do, but maybe missed a key something, would have their names go into the drawing for a $10 gift card. The attorneys I was working for were encouraging me to get my 4-year degree and my law degree, but my husband and I decided that we wanted to have our family. The judge then applies to the State Court administrative office for the funding. Nobody can be required to come into this Court. Ive talked to each person about how their life is going, what their plans are, what theyre happy about, what theyre disappointed in, whether theyre feeling that theyre getting the support they need. For somebody who is going through treatment court probation, theyll meet once a week with the probation officer to see if the treatment plan is working for them the way everybody hoped, and to make sure that theyre accountable for the things theyve agreed to do. The Public Access to Court Records (PACER), 22nd Judicial Circuit Court Washtenaw County Juvenile Court. Well give rewards and applaud people when they tell us how well theyre doing. Its not just the judge who works with the person. They also get a certificate celebrating their accomplishment. 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. Links to District Court Electronic Case Files. We also have someone from Dawn Farms who comes to our team every week, because many people are self-medicating or have substance addictions as well as mental health issues, and so we try to work holistically with both of these issues. During her ten years of practicing law in all district courts in the county, Fawns passion to give her work meaning and her commitment to stand by her beliefs has only grown stronger. Thats more of the challenge. We have about 27 veterans courts in the state of Michigan right now and 83 mental health treatment courts. [1] Swartz was elected to the court in 1998 and re-elected in 2002 and 2008. She would encourage them afterwards. It is one of 105 district courts in Michigan. 14A District Court General Info Locations 14A-1 14A-1 Located in Pittsfield Township, The 14A-1 District Court presides over Pittsfield Township for all Criminal Misdemeanor and Civil Infraction (traffic cases). The goal is to help them leave the court and to be in a stable living situation with improved education or improved job skills, a full- or part-time job, if thats what theyre capable of doing. The candidates running for the six-year, nonpartisan judicial. I encourage all to read this very informative interview that includes a description of the Veterans [], NAMI Washtenaw County To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. When someone resigns in the middle of their term, the governor has the opportunity to appoint their replacement. The Honorable Karen Quinlan Valvo, a judge on the 15th Judicial District Court, will be the guest speaker at NAMI WC's Annual Meeting, which will be held via Zoom on Saturday, March 27, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Were also starting to explore the possibility of opening a track for people who are convicted of non-violent felonies so that they can also have the opportunity to benefit from more intense attention to whatever issues need to be resolved.