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Q&A with Judge Victoria A. Valentine, 6th Circuit Court (Oakland County)

By Lindsey A. DiCesare posted 20 days ago
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Hon. Victoria A. Valentine was elected to the 6th Circuit Court in 2016, and she serves on the business court. Judge Valentine is also the judicial liaison to the Oakland County Bar Association’s circuit court committee and a board member of the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society. She is an active member of the State Bar of Michigan and has served on the Civil Procedure and Courts Committee. Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Valentine was a partner at Valentine & Associates PC. Judge Valentine has also served as president-elect of the Oakland County Bar Association and a trustee of the Oakland County Bar Foundation. For attorneys who have never ...
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Q&A with Judge Jeffrey C. Nellis, 51st Circuit Court (Mason County)

By Lisa F. Geherin posted 05-01-2025
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For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? For both probate and family court matters, folks should check in at the probate court window on the first floor. I start from the position that the best case scenario is for cases to be heard live. Cases get delayed when we are trying to connect people, and, in our rural area, a good connection is often a problem. Also, having everyone in the room together enhances prospects for truthfulness and lends to the formality of the proceedings. From the attorney perspective, I expect that if you file an appearance in our court that you should expect to appear live when required. ...
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Q & A with Judge Lisa Sullivan, Clinton County Probate Court

By Rachael M. Sedlacek posted 04-04-2025
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Hon. Lisa Sullivan sits as a judge for both the Clinton County Probate Court and the Clinton County Family Court. She is a past president of the Michigan Probate Judges Association and currently chairs its legislation committee. She has served as chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and as president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. Over the years, Judge Sullivan has been a frequent presenter at ICLE seminars on family law issues and a contributing author and editor of its publications. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? Check in at the Probate Court window ...
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Q & A with Judge Andre Borrello, 10th Circuit Court (Saginaw County)

By Tala Dahbour posted 03-14-2025
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Judge Borrello was elected to the 10th Circuit Court in 2016. Judge Borrello handles both criminal and civil cases for the Saginaw County Circuit Court and also presides over the Saginaw County Recovery Court with Judge Gafkay. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Borrello served as city attorney for the city of Saginaw at the law firm Gilbert, Smith, & Borrello. He also served as the Interim Deputy City Manager, Director of Public Utilities, and as the Saginaw County civil counsel. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law. For attorneys who have never been to your court, ...
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Q & A with Judge Kirsten Holz, 63rd District Court (Kent County)

By Nicole S. McNair posted 02-03-2025
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Judge Kirsten Holz earned bachelors of arts degrees in government and in Spanish language from Cornell University. In 2007, she earned her juris doctorate degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. She was appointed to the bench by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2024. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? After clearing security, attorneys will head to the clerk’s windows, which are situated to the left of the main entry. Once you check in with the clerks, you can head upstairs to whichever courtroom you’re directed. We have three primary courtrooms here at the 63 ...
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Q&A with Honorable Janice K. Cunningham, 56th Circuit Court (Eaton County)

By Lindsey A. DiCesare posted 11-04-2024
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Judge Janice K. Cunningham was elected on November 6, 2012, as the first woman circuit court judge in Eaton County and took office on January 1, 2013. She became Chief Judge for Eaton County Trial Courts effective January 1, 2020. Judge Cunningham hears civil, criminal, and family law cases. In addition to her normal caseload, Judge Cunningham also presides over the Adult Circuit Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court. She is also the judicial volunteer for the SMILE program. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Cunningham was in private practice, where she specialized in family law. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? ...
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Q&A with Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, Michigan Court of Appeals

By Lindsey A. DiCesare posted 09-03-2024
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The Honorable Allie Greenleaf Maldonado was appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2023. Judge Maldonado is the first citizen of a federally recognized Native nation to serve on the Michigan Court of Appeals. In addition to being a citizen of the state of Michigan, Judge Maldonado is a citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) and a member of the Turtle Clan. Before her appointment to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Judge Maldonado served as the Chief Judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and as assistant general counsel for the Tribe. Who makes up your judicial staff and what roles do they play? I ...
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Q&A with Judge Cori E. Barkman, 29th Circuit Court (Clinton and Gratiot Counties)

By Matthew J. Franson posted 08-12-2024
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Hon. Cori E. Barkman has served as a circuit court judge in the 29 th Circuit Court of Clinton and Gratiot Counties since 2021. She handles both civil and criminal matters. Before becoming a judge, Judge Barkman was a first assistant attorney general in the Michigan Department of Corrections Division of the Attorney General’s Office. Prior to that role, she was an administrative law judge at the St. Louis Correctional Facility and a senior litigation attorney in the Attorney General’s Office. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? Attorneys should check in with the judicial assistant who is in the courtroom. ...
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Q&A with Judge Bridget Mary Hathaway, 3rd Circuit Court (Wayne County)

By Rebekah Page-Gourley posted 07-01-2024
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Hon. Bridget Mary Hathaway was elected to the bench on November 6, 2018. She is assigned to the Wayne County Circuit Court’s criminal division. Before her election to the bench, Judge Hathaway worked in private practice at Flood Law and Bodman PLC. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? For an attorney appearing in person, the attorney should first check in with my deputy who sits at the entrance to my courtroom. If I am on the record at the time, the attorney should wait until the matter concludes before they approach the clerk to check in with her and speak to her about any issues, if any. For an attorney ...
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Q&A with Judge Donna Howard, 2nd Circuit Court (Berrien County)

By Tala Dahbour posted 06-03-2024
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Judge Donna Howard was elected as a district judge to the Berrien County Trial Court on November 4, 2014, and began her term on January 1, 2015. She has served in both the criminal and civil divisions and was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder on July 26, 2018, to the 2nd Circuit Court in Berrien County, where she currently oversees the civil division, problem-solving courts, and the business court. Judge Howard holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School. Before her judicial career, she practiced law for 17 years and served as Berrien County Corporate Counsel from 2010-2014. Judge Howard also volunteers ...
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Q&A with Judge Avery D. Rose, Kent County Probate Court

By Nicole S. McNair posted 05-06-2024
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Judge Avery D. Rose took the bench on January 1, 2023. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Rose was appointed to serve as the probate register for Kent County in 2019, where he oversaw the administration of the Probate Court and the Kent County Guardianship Program. Prior to that, in 2015, Judge Rose was named as the probate register at the Allegan County Probate Court, where he also served as an attorney/referee. During his tenure in Allegan County, Judge Rose also served as the President of the Allegan County Bar Association, participated in the Allegan County Community Corrections Advisory Board, served as board member for the Allegan County Legal Assistance ...
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Q&A with Judge Julie Gatti, 16th Circuit Court (Macomb County)

By Rachael M. Sedlacek posted 04-02-2024
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Judge Julie Gatti graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989. She received her Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University in 1995. Judge Gatti was elected to the Circuit Court bench in November 2018. Prior to her election, Judge Gatti was in private practice, specializing in Family Law. She served 9 years on the Board of the Macomb County Bar Association (MCBA) and was elected its 85th President. She was the proud recipient of the MCBA’s Civility Award for 2017-2018. Judge Gatti serves on the Board of Directors of The Resolution Center. Additionally, she is a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan ...
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Q&A with Judge Karl A. Barr, 14A-2 District Court (Washtenaw County)

By Lisa F. Geherin posted 03-06-2024
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Judge Karl Barr was elected to the bench in November 2022, and he began his term on January 1, 2023. He currently presides at the 14A-2 District Court in Ypsilanti, Michigan. After law school at Michigan State College of Law, Judge Barr worked in the tax department of Plante Moran and then joined Barr, Anhut and Associates, PC, in Ypsilanti. His practice areas included municipal law, real estate, trust and estates, criminal prosecution, and civil litigation. What types of cases are on your docket? My docket is a mix of civil and criminal. I handle all matters typically heard in a district court including landlord-tenant, general ...
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Q & A with Judge Curtis J. Bell, 9th Circuit Court (Kalamazoo County)

By Katy P. Sanchez posted 01-02-2024
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Curtis J. Bell is the chief judge of the Kalamazoo County Probate Court and 9th Circuit Court in Michigan. He was appointed to the court by former Governor Jennifer Granholm on February 8, 2005, and assumed office on February 25, 2008. He has served as chief judge of the court since 2014. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? It depends on whether the hearing is in person or virtual. If it is an in-person hearing, an attorney should go directly into the courtroom where they can either come to the judicial aide’s desk or the judicial aide will inquire of those present prior to the hearing. Should the hearing be ...
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Q&A with Judge Amanda J. Shelton, 6th Judicial Circuit Court (Oakland County)

By Max H. Matthies posted 12-05-2023
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Hon. Amanda J. Shelton was elected to the 6th Judicial Circuit Court in November 2022 and was assigned to the family division. Prior to being elected, Judge Shelton practiced law for 18 years (2004-2022). Judge Shelton is a member of several professional organizations. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? For matters on Zoom, attorneys need to identify themselves by name and case number. Attorneys need to make sure their clients properly identify themselves as well. We get many folks showing up as “iPad,” “Samsung”, etc. For motion call, the court schedules motions in 15-minute blocks, so ...
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Q&A with Judge David Allen, 3rd Circuit Court (Wayne County)

By Rebekah Page-Gourley posted 11-01-2023
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Hon. David J. Allen was appointed to the Wayne County Circuit Court by Governor Jennifer Granholm in December 2003. He practiced law for ten years prior to taking the bench. He currently serves on the civil docket and as a business court judge. What types of matters/motions are held via Zoom and which are held in person? Trials are in person. I hold everything else via Zoom, unless the parties request otherwise. What is your check-in process? For both motion call and everyday status and settlement conferences, I let everyone into the Zoom room, and my law clerk directs counsel to use Zoom’s chat function to check in. I don’t use ...
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Q&A with Judge Maureen H. Kinsella, 6th Judicial Circuit Court (Oakland County)

By Katy P. Sanchez posted 10-04-2023
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Judge Kinsella was appointed to the circuit court on April 27, 2022, by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Prior to her appointment to the Oakland County bench, Judge Kinsella spent nearly 20 years at Miller & Tischler, PC, in Farmington Hills in litigation practice and served as the firm’s vice president and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? For all in-person matters, an attorney need only enter the courtroom where one of my two clerks will greet them and check them in for their matter. For Zoom matters, attorneys need only sign in to the Zoom courtroom, and ...
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Q&A with Judge Arianne Slay, 22nd Circuit Court (Washtenaw County)

By Lisa F. Geherin posted 09-15-2023
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Judge Slay began serving the Washtenaw County community in 2005 as a program manager at Community Corrections and later as an assistant Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney. From 2017 to 2022, Judge Slay served as a deputy city attorney in the city of Ann Arbor, focusing on municipal matters, ordinance prosecution, and criminal justice reform. She took the bench on December 7, 2022. She currently presides over the personal protection order docket as well as family law and criminal law cases. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what is your check-in process? There is no formal check-in process. Attorneys check in with the ...
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Q&A with Judge Robert S. Sykes, Jr., Ionia County Probate Court

By Rachael M. Sedlacek posted 08-07-2023
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Judge Robert S. Sykes, Jr. is a life-long resident of Ionia County. He is a graduate of Purdue University and Valparaiso University School of Law. Upon graduating from law school, he worked in private practice, primarily with the law firm of McNamara, O’Keeffe and Sykes until being elected the Ionia County Probate Judge in 2004. He is a member of the Ionia County Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. He is the 2010 recipient of the Robert E. Weiss Judicial Leadership Award and the 2016 recipient of the Michigan Foster Care Review Board Jurist of the Year. For attorneys who have never been to your court, what ...
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Q&A with Judge Catherine L. Heise, Wayne County Circuit Court

By Max H. Matthies posted 07-10-2023
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Hon. Catherine L. Heise has been a judge for the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County since her appointment on April 10, 2014. An experienced trial lawyer, Judge Heise served as a case evaluator with the Mediation Tribunal Association and was a member of the council of the Insurance and Indemnity Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. She earned the designation of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter in 2013 and has authored several published articles on insurance-related issues. Judge Heise served as a councilwoman in the city of Dearborn Heights from 2003-2006. She also served on the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery from 2012-2014 and chaired ...
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