Circuit judge candidates to square off at July 31 forum at Washtenaw Community College

Posted on Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.

Circuit judge candidates to square off at July 31 forum at Washtenaw Community College

By Ryan J. Stanton

Still unsure who to vote for in Washtenaw County's hotly contested 22nd Circuit Court judge race next month? You'll get a chance to hear from the candidates on July 31.

All four attorneys seeking the seat being vacated by Judge Melinda Morris will take the stage at Towsley Auditorium at Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Drive.

That includes Jim Fink, Carol Kuhnke, Doug McClure and Erane Washington. The forum runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

In addition, Judge Timothy Connors is facing a challenge from attorney Michael Woodyard and they are expected appear at the event as well. They won't appear on the ballot until the November general election, though.

Judge races are nonpartisan. In the case of the four-way race on the Aug. 7 ballot, voters may pick only one candidate. The top two vote-getters advance to the November election.

The July 31 event is free and open to the public. The evening will consist of a moderated forum using pre-submitted questions, followed by a meet-and-greet with the candidates.

Anyone who wants to submit a question for the candidates can email washbar@washbar.org and put "judicial forum" in the subject line.

The deadline for question submissions is 5 p.m. July 26.

The event being hosted by the Washtenaw County Bar Association in collaboration with the Washtenaw Association for Justice, Washtenaw Chapter of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Michigan Hellenic Bar Association, Vanzetti-Hamilton Bar Association, Ann Arbor Branch of the NAACP and Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

League of Women Voters in Ann Arbor recently held its own 22nd Circuit Court judicial candidate forum. Watch the video here.

Previous coverage:

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Comments

Mariel de deSoleil

Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:13 a.m.

For the record, I don't even know what the dream nightclub is... Judge Connors should not be seeking re-election. He seems to believe that he is above the law, and that he can rule contrary to the law. His work in family law cases was egregious.

truthbetold

Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 6:50 p.m.

AS I have posted elsewhere, readers should know that several critics of Judge Connors are supporters of the dream nightclub. They have commented frequently in the many articles about the dream nightclub. They are angry at the judges who repeatedly ruled against the dream nightclub, inclduing Judge Connors. They are also angry at Councilmember Derezinski and City Attorney Postema. These commenters include roadman, sam, and eyesofjustice. Readers might want to review their prior comments. I'm not sure any of the judge candidates are seeking support from Dream Nightclub supporters!

Roadman

Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.

@truthbetold: Some have described me as "Jamie", an alleged former circuit court clerk, others have identified me as other persons which I am not. I have been critical in prior posts of other judges - including Julie Creal - and other City Council candidates - especially the blatantly unqualified Eric Sturgis, whose mother has uprooted Eric's worthy opponent's campaign signs. I do not recall ever saying anything negative about Tony Derezinski's performance on City Council - but I have been highly complimentary of Mrs. Petersen, his opponent. As for Judge Connors - www.a2buzz.org says it all.

Dr. I. Emsayin

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.

Carol Kuhnke is a bright, thoughtful candidate who is dedicated to our county.

Judy

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 1:08 p.m.

Anyone who wants to define Judge Connors and keep him on the bench should set in his court room while he is listening to cases. Listen to how he talks to people watch how he treats them, if it is your case; pray he is in a good mood. If you do not have an attorney and the other part does the one with an attorney will win 9 out of 10 times no matter what the issue so get yourself an attorney. He will not make a "decision until you have 2 or 3 court appearances costing you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in attorney fees. If both parts have an attorney good luck!

Judy

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.

NO! jcj Just have to deal with Judge Connors and the Friend of the Court!

jcj

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.

Sounds like some here are career criminals spending too much time in court.

Roadman

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.

Thank you for your input, Judy. We are looking forward for voters in November to toss Timothy Connors out on his proverbial ear from his judge's seat. Michael Woodyard is a fine alternative that will bring honor back to the circuit court.

Soothslayer

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.

Connors should not seek re-election. He's lazy and genuinely disinterested in the actual merits of cases because that would take work and he doesn't have the capacity, nor want to spend the effort, to understand them. Justice may be blind but she also absent in his courtroom. With Connors it's all about protecting special interests.

Judy

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.

I agree with you 100%

Lisa

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 11:27 a.m.

It's about time we had a choice and what about Creal Good bye you mess!

Soothslayer

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 12:38 p.m.

Creal was a disaster. Good riddance.

eyesofjustice

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 3:30 a.m.

A2buzz.org enough said!

jcj

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 1:31 a.m.

Doug McClure has been a member of the community for over twenty years and has the endorsement of Senator Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Senate Democratic Leader Sanjiv Sinha, Board Member-Michigan League of Conservation Voters

jcj

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 1:34 a.m.

Some how was posted before completion meant to include among others Jyoti Gupta, Executive Director, Washtenaw Area Council for Children Washtenaw County Farm Bureau, Candidate Evaluation Committee

Sam

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.

Mike Woodyard has been an Ann Arbor resident for over ten years.Hes honorable, ethical ,decent,and fair man and must be elected to replace Judge Conners.Mike Woodyard will restore fairness and honor to the circuit court in Washtenaw County.Conners behavior has been despicable. Check out a2buzz.org.

Roadman

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 12:34 a.m.

I believe the public electorate should support Jim Fink. Mr.Fink, like Michael Woodyard, has spent a career in law enforcement and has given back to the community via worthy volunteer work for charitable causes. God bless Jim Fink and Michael Woodyard.

Roadman

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 12:29 a.m.

Check out www.umsalary.info and other sources of the University of Michigan and you will notice that Judge Timothy Connors has worked for the University of Michigan Law School and drawn compensation as an adjunct professor teaching an advocacy class; this is despite the fact that the Washtenaw County Circuit Court regularly hears cases in which the University of Michigan is a party. Also check out the Michigan Court of Appeals decision in Lenski versus Chelsea Community Hospital et al, Court of Appeals Case No. 275995, (downloadable at the www.michigan.gov state website) in which Judge Connors was reversed and the case ordered re-assigned to another judge. The Court of Appeals stated at p.4 of its August 14, 2008 opinion: "We view the trial judge's remarks in this case as egregiously biased and simply injudicious..........." Michael Woodyard is running against Connors and held a recent fundraiser at Gallup Park that drew many local civic leaders. He is being endorsed by many judges and attorneys.

Sam

Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.

Is it legal for a sitting judge to hear cases presented by his personal divorce attorney, or to hear cases presented by one of his side employers.This sort of thing has been happening for years in the 22nd circuit court.Im amazed that the judicial tenure committee has not been informed of this travesty thats comited on a regular basis. This is a total abuse of power and Judge Conners should not be seeking re-election.

Sam

Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.

Mick52

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 4:23 p.m.

Hey Sam, if you think Judge Connors' actions amount to a "travesty" that should be investigated, why don't you report it yourself? Perhaps no one else has because nobody in the world except you believe such.

Roadman

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 4:52 a.m.

@APWBD123: Judges Morris and Shelton are not employees of the University of Michigan, to my knowledge. Connors' salary as a U-M adjunct faculty memeber is a matter of public record and downloadable at www.umsalary.info That public record shows that he raked in a salary of in excess of $54,000.00 as a part-time employee for the year 2010. He was appointed as a U-M adjunct faculty member in 2008 not long after issuing a key ruling denying a labor union access in a Freedom of Information Act suit against the University of Michigan to addresses and phone numbers of U-M employees; the union wanted this information to assist in recruitment and organizing efforts.

APWBD123

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 3:57 a.m.

If judges excused themselves in all cases where they knew or associated with the other party there would likely not be too many choices, especially in a small community like ann arbor. There is absolutely nothing unethical about judges hearing cases in front of parties they have associated with. Its only unethical if that relationship undermines their ability to make a fair and impartial decsisions based on the cases legal merits. Take for example Judges Morris and Shelton. Both are graduates of U of M, both hear cases by and against the university, and yet no one would know they were alumni based on their decisions. If Judge Conners is considered unethical, I truly am horrified to see what you consider ethics.