Kurt Berggren For District Court Election Editorials

Don't overlook the judicial contest on the Nov. 6 Ann Arbor ballot. Kurt Berggren, who specializes in defending victims of racial and sexual injustice, is challenging Pieter G. V. Thomassen, a 22-year incumbent judge on Ann Arbor's 15th District Court.

So what? Good question. Most of us don't pay attention to judicial races. We figure lawyers and judges are all alike, and as long as we behave ourselves we won't end up in court anyway . But the court system affects all of us. If our judges are responsible, fair and sensitive to a broad cultural spectrum, then the community is warmer, more relaxed, and more secure.

Kurt is the obvious choice for 15th District Judge. When 190 Washtenaw County lawyers were asked to rate the two candidates on 25 personal and professional qualities, they gave Kurt both the highest average score and the the lowest. The highest score was Kurfs for "racial and ethnic impartiality." Thomassen wasn't even close. The lowest score was Kurt's for "non-controversial conduct or techniques."

That low score is actually a plus. Kurt is definitely not like other lawyers and judges. He takes on difficult cases that challenge social and legal assumptions, and he wins more than he loses. He also challenges government policies. When Juigalpa, our sister city in Nicaragua, needed a garbage truck, Kurt drove it 5,000 miles and delivered it personally.

Let the lawyers worry about "controversial conduct." With Kurt on the bench, the rest of us can rest easier knowing that the 15th District Court is finally treating everybody (plaintiffs, defendants, cops, criminals, even the lawyers) with decency and respect.

by Tom Rieke