CREW said it shared its statistical findings in advance of their release with county commissioners, the current and incoming prosecutor, the court's chief judge as well as Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton and Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. He currently presides at the 14A-2 District Court in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Increase in Private/State production, significant decrease in federal leases. God Bless Governor Engler. Does your "focus" on criminals include fast and furious? "Before the forum started, someone anonymously placed dozens of copies of a homemade attack flier carrying the headline "What Washtenaw Democrats should know about Jim Fink" in the chairs" Video obtained by Fox 2 shows the boy picking up a bike outside Le-Nguyens house when the shot is fired. Based on that I would argue judges should be appointed! But, then again, few who voted for Snyder ever thought that he would start war with Unions, womem, and teachers and let his merry bad of pranksters start pushing out their social agenda. Interviewee: "what I've done in the past and my qualifications aren't important, what you should really focus on are the shortcomings of my competitors." Fink declined to specifically address any of the allegations, saying only that he's running a nonpartisan campaign and he has support from both Democrats and Republicans. His office provides written bond recommendations to magistrates in every case, but historically its relatively rare that prosecutors attend arraignments, he said. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about this page please email Lisa Fusik. He is a fine man who lives in downtown Ypsilanti and cares about our county. The election for Washtenaw County Circuit Court judges is in November. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Talker - Contrary to popular rhetoric, America was founded, not as a "democracy," but as a constitutional republic--a political structure under which the government is bound by a written constitution to the task of protecting individual rights. Watkins was ordered to turn himself in by Hon. It really is surprising the that the two big issues for Jim Fink is Abortion and Gay rights? Ex-cops can be lawyers, but never judges. He would be a Great asset to our circuit court system. He won in the retention election on November 8, 2022. If we continue down this path, there will come a day when we wish we changed direction. Jim Fink should not be labeled as a Democrat or Republican!!!!! Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. This is truly a reflection of why we have such a special place to live. On the other hand, liberal judges will ignore the law and apply whatever rules they want in order to achieve so-called "social justice". I worked for the 15th District Court in Ann Arbor for 15 years, a number of those years when district court offices were housed in the Washtenaw County Building alongside circuit court offices and I know several of the people who are running for this circuit judge position. "Chris Easthope, Jan Bobrin and Rolland Sizemore all appear as endorsers on the campaign website for JIm Fink." This is a website with words forming a story. Yeah, right. He is a professional and fair minded attorney with great family roots. February 9th, 2023 5:30pm . "No terrorist attacks in the US". What do you expect? A vote for this man is a vote to enable a Police State. Chief justice Young has been telling us for years that they will enforce the law as written. By the way, how many Supreme Courts have made a ruling like Bush v. Gore, and then said, "but this can not be applied in any other cases", stare decisis my a**! adn you don;t know how unethical taht would be? Judge Profiles Trial Court judges are elected for terms of six years in non-partisan elections. Love people who stand tall for their convictions. It's a great occupation, it's one that I love, it's one that I feel very passionately about.". "Judge Morris is the only judge sitting on the bench right now who was elected to her seat. That's consistent with valuing civil rights. Judge Anna Frushour, of the 14A-1 District Court, granted the motion, Savit said. When a school or hospital is a major employer of people of all backgrounds, yet wants to control benefits or behavior based on religion beliefs, it is dangerous to put on the November ballot even one judge who doesn't understand how such action violates the U.S. Constitution. Before the forum started, someone anonymously placed dozens of copies of a homemade attack flier carrying the headline "What Washtenaw Democrats should know about Jim Fink" in the chairs, waiting for the 50 or so audience members who showed up. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/22/activists-photographed-flipping-bird-to-reagan-portrait-at-white-house/?test=latestnews That's SO arbitrary in practice. So it's very difficult when your lawyer tells you "we don't know what the judge will do even though we do know what the law requires." The judiciary becomes unreliable. "Democracy" does not mean a system that holds public elections for government officials; it means a system in which a majority vote rules everything and everyone, and in which the individual thus has no rights. Hiring began after 9/11. If you can cite some that would be cool, because I cannot find any specific policies that "Romney says he will implement. Thus, "the will of the people" is a misnomer - it only applies in a democracy. Nothing is so dangerous as a judge who bases the court's decisions on the Bible. Not all attorneys behave with integrity. Funny but a lot of prominent Democrats have not heeded to the attacks on Jim Fink. Police agencies do not have authority to set bond, the statement continued. Thank you! If political partiality were not an issue then this Presidential privilege would not be so important. "And as a judge, I will follow the law because it's not up to a judge to make the law or to insert his or her personal opinions into things. This sad process has chipped away at the America our Founders sought to create - the last 40 years have been devastating and we are one "straw" away from become Europe. I wonder? I'm also looking forward to a court which, I hope, will start to enforce some law and order in the county, instead of approving light plea bargains and even lighter sentences. interest rates at record lows, along with federal tax burdens I have known his late father, his brother, and other members of his extended family, and they are all hard working people with great integrity. I have no doubt that Mr. Fink would be an exceptional Judge. You mean as the result of the Bush tax cuts? His current term ends on January 4, 2027. He was a radical as far as his politics, but went on to be a very good judge. If this info is accurate, I don't think Albert agrees with you on churches. October 23rd, 2019 5:30pm - 8:00pm. Never fails to amaze me how lost some people are, especially when confronted with fact. At least Mr Fink is honest which the current administration can not claim to be. He currently presides at the 14A-2 District Court in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Classic divide and conquer. Judge Fink got "called out" for having a mind of his own, and not being in lock step with the far left agenda . That means the people who get involved in the judicial political scam can at least rely on statute and precedent as opposed to the democrats ever changing social theory. Once again, legislating from the bench sounds good to someone who wants to do drugs w/o worry for the laws and a sympathetic judge is exactly the cure. Fairy tales are just that..fairy tails. Or that we should just accept that as being unavoidable. Notice I said opinion. Dear father of Mrs. Robert (Roberta . The fact that there are no judicial candidates in the Ann Arbor election who are pro life, pro family or pro marriage is not acceptable. Why don't we hear about right wing judges "making law" or finding "rights" that are nowhere in the Constitution or in the state laws? Sounds like a cheap shot at Fink. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see. Chris Easthope, Jan Bobrin and Rolland Sizemore all appear as endorsers on the campaign website for JIm Fink. Jim and I disagree on a lot, but I am glad to support Jim. Print. Cedric Simpson of the 14A-3 District Court in Washtenaw County and a bond hearing was set for May 17 at 9 a.m. At that time, the judge will. It is then the prosecutors job to advocate on behalf of the people, the defenses job to advocate for their client and the magistrates job to make the bond decision, the sheriffs office said. One of the mothers was an egg donor and the other mother carried the child to birth, but only the mother who carried the child is on the birth certificate. I can't hold my tongue any longer, this is ridiculous: Fink gets skewered for his Republican bias, while the other three candidates are lauded for their Democratic bias? Many of the people he arrested spoke very highly of him because they felt he really cared about them beyond their status as being involved in the justice system. Let's not forget that the Judicial Branch's role is to 'interpret' the law, not to inject their own personal politics into the law. If Barack Obama showed up to a Tea Party or GOP event, how do you think he'd be greeted? Fink is just the picture postcard snapshot of a Republican who is anti-gay, anti-choice and will be nothing but a tool for the right wing hacks who've highjacked the Republican Party. If that was ever what was needed, that time has passed. In this particular case, our recommendations differed from the bond decision that was eventually made by the court, Savit said. Requests for a two week adjournment can be made by stipulation and order for adjournment. To be clear, our policy still allows for the detention of people who pose an imminent threat to the community. As his income went from 6 mill to 20 mill in two years, I think things must be doing OK. A candidate must be a qualified elector, a resident of the judicial circuit, a lawyer who has been licensed to practice law for at least five years, and under 70 years of age. Accused of shooting a 6-year-old boy in Ypsilanti Township, Le-Nguyen was arraigned on four felony charges: assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and two counts of discharging a firearm in a building with reckless disregard for safety.Washtenaw County. You can't be serious! The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of MLive Media Group, You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. Election results and vote counts for candidates for office, ballot questions, and party enrollment and voter registration and turnout statistics. If a law is passed that a judge BELIEVES doe snot pass the US or MICHIGAN constitution test, they MUST consider it a bad law and strike it down. The freeways consist of an advanced network of interconnecting freeways which include Interstate highways. 6th Annual Trivia Challenge . Such prejudice - did any have a problem with Bill Ayers coming to town to sell his book? As someone who has known and worked with Jim Fink for nearly 40 years as a friend, law enforcement colleague, and politician, I personally know Jim Fink as a man of integrity and solid values. "Country falling apart" Hon. From my earliest experiences with him I can remember him taking the time to come to a well thought out conclusion based on the facts. The other candidates expressed there views and would support the views of the the democratic party. These four other candidates are vying against one another in the August Primary, and the two peole who get the most votes will appear on the ballot in November. The legal system is how we deal with people who make bad decisions. Come on now. 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. In this era of activist judges, I think the context of Mr. Fink's other political views and activities are important information to have. "What, you worry?" Alfred, There is ample free parking in front of the office, or in the municipal lot next to the office building. Requests should be faxed to the 14A-2 Clerks office at 734-484-6697. The long delay in pressing a felony concealed weapon charge against star Michigan football player Mazi Smith was "wholly unremarkable," Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit told the Free Press . - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Election results and vote counts for candidates for office, ballot questions, and party enrollment and voter registration and turnout statistics. If you didn't know, you can read this. Armstrong took the most votes followed by Barr. "I've been practicing law for 18 years and I've spent those 18 years pursuing justice for my clients in the court. Elisha V. Fink is the third generation of her family to serve as part of the judiciary in the 14A District Court. Most people can't afford the time or cost to appeal.". I admire his presence at this forum and do trust him when he says he will follow the law with his rulings. If I were running for public office, one platform I would espouse is reducing the number of law school admissions thereby reducing by a ton the number of lawyers running around telling us average americans how to think, what to do and how to live our lives. /faint! And Fink is the only candidate to repeatedly state that the law takes precedent over a judge's personal beliefs? Interesting. That's why so few decisions are unanimous, because every judge has a different view of what "the law" is. People can say all day and night that they will follow the law and not let their personal beliefs get in the way of their judgement. It is so you. Party Name Time Hearing Info Case Number CTN . "A judge should not be political.". Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention [and] have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property." 320 N. Main St., Suite 420 Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Judges Elections Washtenaw County, Michigan Circuit Court 22nd Circuit Court, Michigan David Swartz (Chief judge) Archie Cameron Brown Pat Conlin Timothy Connors Carol Kuhnke [1] District Court Michigan Fifteenth Judicial District Court Joseph F. Burke (Chief judge) Miriam A. Perry Karen Valvo [2] Michigan 14B Judicial District Court We the people, can't afford any more chipping away at democracy and the separation of church and state. "local" judges as they are being referring to in the string primarily get deference on questions of fact and credibility of witnesses. There is no proof that God exists, most of the Christian myths expoused in the Bible came from earlier non-christian religions, like the Hittites. Pretzel Bell 226 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Get Directions. Fawn Armstrong and Karl Barr were the top two vote-getters in the non-partisan primary Tuesday, meaning they will run-off against one another in the general election. 2022. "There was some lobbying by some of the judges so I think that it's important that the citizens of this county are aware that the views do affect the outcome of the way the courts operate.". Who is more dangerous -- One who enforces the laws or one who makes up the law to serve their own vision of what's fair or right. Elisha V. Fink is the third generation of her family to serve as part of the judiciary in the 14A District Court. But we made the requests that we did and I think that the gravity of the charges that we saw fit to file reflected why we were seeking that bond., Police investigating armed robbery outside Ypsilanti burger restaurant, Michigan TikTokers failed sex fetish stunt requires fire department rescue, Ann Arbor-area leaders want to make racial equity a focus with human services funding, Ann Arbor to plant 1,300 new trees after Brood X cicada emergence, Oversight commission calls for limiting police presence at Ann Arbor Art Fair. Judicial candidates are selected for their legal ability and professional and personal achievements rather than their mastery of political campaigns. You actually bought the "private sector economy is doing fine" line? "Unemployment down from 10.2% to 8.2%" That's good news? Could more have been said on the bond information form? This is that simple. If you need to file a motion, you must file the motion with the 14A-2 Clerks office in person or by fax to 734-484-6697. "And I want to bring that to the bench.". "In my law practice, I represent municipalities and small businesses, some criminal defendants and people with real estate transactions," he said. Some are unethical "behind the scenes". @Machine, Many republicans often favor a so-called "rule of law" on the bench because claimants in cases can read the law - both statutory and case law - and have a pretty good idea what the judge will do. Judge Barr | Washtenaw County, MI Home Your Government Departments A-H 14A District Court Judges & Admin Judge Barr Judge Barr Judge Barr was elected to the bench in November 2022. Interviewer: "so, Interviewee, what qualifications do you have to work here?" Karl V. Fink (Ret.) William Lucas was also a Wayne County Sheriff who became a judge later. Washington recalled there was a point in time when same-sex couples were allowed to adopt children in Washtenaw County. Prosecutor Eli Savit filed an emergency motion to up the bond for Ryan Le-Nguyen it will be heard in front of a different judge Tuesday. Timothy Connors was appointed by conservative GOP Governor John Engler and made a $1,000.00 donation to the Michigan GOP on August 6, 1991 - the same month he received his initial bench appointment. I have seen Mr. Fink in action and he is not above his old cop tricks of perjury and slander whenever he can get away with it. I have a great deal of respect for Jim Fink and hope he is elected to the bench. I googled Gary Hann's from the area. The four attorneys are competing in the Aug. 7 primary for the seat being vacated by Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Melinda Morris, who is retiring. Do you like his support for gay rights? There are attorneys and, unfortunately, judges at all points on the spectrum. That means "rule of law", case closed. But that could mean anything, and places a burden on the appeals courts which we already can't afford. Remember Justin Ravitz in Detroit? Personally, I want judges who uphold the law, not ones who interpret the law to suit their political agenda. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Fink resigned from the bench in 1997. No. Magistrate Fink presides at all locations of the 14A District Court. Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com Fink pulled 41.4 percent of the vote compared to Kuhnke's 29.8 percent, while Erane Washington and Doug McClure, both Democrats, took 17 percent and 11.6 percent, respectively. This week, we have put together a plan which is going to have (assistant prosecutors) at arraignment for pretty serious cases moving forward.. "Oil/gas production at near record highs". Election results and vote counts for candidates for office, ballot questions, and party enrollment and voter registration and turnout statistics. 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