The Race For Circuit Court

On Nov. 8, 1988 the voters of Washtenaw County will have the opportunity to select a new Circuit Court judge for the first time in many years. Five candidates ran for this important position in the August primary election. Of the field, Nancy Francis and Melinda Morris received the most votes, thus insuring Washtenaw County its first female Circuit Court Judge. The Circuit Court judges of the various counties preside over the highest trial courts in Michigan. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over divorce and domestic relations matters, felony adjudications (judicial determinations) and civil suits for $10,000 or more, or civil suits for injunctions (court orders prohibiting actions). The Circuit Court is also the appellate court for District Courts. An appellate court hears appeals of decisions made in other courts and has the power to reverse those decisbns. A district court is a court of general jurisdiction. The Circuit Court also hears appeals of some juvenile and probate (having to do with wills and estates) judgements, administrative agency decisions and Board of Education rulings. In Michigan, the Circuit Court is the Superior Court, that is, the court which has jurisdiction over novel or innovative actions which have not been previously recognized by statute or common law. Nancy Francis In your opinión, what are the important areas of concern for the Circuit Court? There is an institucional economie bias in the legal system because presenting the best possible case costs money. Generally, the more money a party has, the better he or she will fare. Those who are in charge of courts must be aware of the existence of this bias and must do whatever they can to alleviatc its effects. The Circuit Court is the sentencing court for felony offenders, the only offenders sent into our already over-crowded prisons. Balancing the safety ofthecommunityagainstrehabilitativeorothernonprison sentencing is one of the hardest jobs the community gives to the Circuit judge. We need to identify more programs for altemative sentencing and secure more information on the successfailure rate of the various programs. The court must continue its improvement of convenient delivery of service to the public. It must adjust its dockets so that people do nothave to spend long periods waiting for their motions to be heard, for their cases to come to trial, or for trials to be completed. The court can provide pamphlets for the public which simply explain the Circuit Court process. I also believe that our county should adopt the one-day, one trial term of jury service to replace the present 30-day term. On Nov. 8, Washtenaw county voters will be deciding whether to rund a new courthouse. If approved, design considerations, such as making all areas of the courtroom handicap accessible, will be of paramount concern for this Circuit. What in your background and experience qualifies you for Circuit Court judge? I have been a trial attorney for 14 years and have practiced throughout the state, primarily in southeastcm Michigan in both the state and federal systems. Besides meeting the two legal qualifïcations of age and profession, I am qualified to be Circuit Court judge because I have always mainiained a practice which includes all areas of Circuit Court jurisdiction: felony, domestic and civil, as well as district, juvenile, probate and administrati ve agency cases. Therefore, I am knowledgeable in all areas of substantive law that will come before the court. Having conducted many jury and non-jury trials, I am seasoned in evaluating, preparing, trying and settling legal cases. As a Legal Services attorney for seven years, I have carried a heavy caseload in many areas of the law without jeopardizing clients. Through this experience, I have learned to keep numerous balls in the air at one time without dropping any. A Circuit Court judge's job involvesjust those skills. The nature of my practice and my personal involvement in the civil rights movement, legal services and court appointment work, the Peace Corps, and anti-poverty services, have caused me to have meaningful experiences with all kinds of people and all aspects of the human condition. I learn and releam that every person has the same human worth and deserves courteous, considérate treatment and respect for his or her dignily. Why should we vote for you rather than your opponent? I believe I can do this job well and truly serve the public. That is why I am running for this seat. In choosing between my opponent and myself, I ask that you considcr the strengths I have spelled out above. Our most observable difference is the difference wc have in broad and deep trial experience. I have conlinuously maintained a heavy practice in all areas of Circuit Court jurisdiction. I believe this difference weighs heavily in favor of my being elccted to the Circuit Court judgeship.