Judicial Forum

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="044005a0exvipq.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eastside Republican Club"><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B>  </B><B> </B></FONT><B>  | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><B>Eastside Republican Club</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B>Events</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="eastside_republican_review_summary.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ERC Review"><U><B>ERC Review</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><B>Congressional District News</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="civic___governmental_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="erc_officers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Judicial Forum</B></div> <div> <A HREF="link_to_michigan_gop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michigan Republicans"><U><B><IMG SRC="05358580.gif" border=0 width="88" height="88" ALT="Michigan GOP" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/resources/other/orgchart03-22-02.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/resource"><U><I><B>Diagram of </B></I></U></A><A HREF="http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/resources/other/orgchart03-22-02.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/resource"><U><I><B>Michigan Court System</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.RegisterRepublicans.com/vr_forms.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.RegisterRepublicans.com/vr_fo"><U><I><B>Voter Registration Forms</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="erc_testimonials.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Theyre Saying About Us"><U><I><B>Read what they've said about us</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B><IMG SRC="81b871f0.gif" border=0 width="135" height="31" ALT=">>Events" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <A NAME="top_of_page"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <I><U>Civic Responsibility Stressed</U></I></div> <div> <B>Five Judges and Candidates<IMG SRC="d8ec8510.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="337" ALT="Hon. Timothy M. Kenny" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="4"></B></div> <div> <B>Featured at ERC June Forum</B></div> <div> Instead of asking for his audience to vote for him, Judge Timothy M. Kenny made a plea for civic responsibility at the Eastside Republican Club's June 2004 Forum.</div> <div> Local judges and candidates for judicial office addressed the group and gave voters an opportunity to understand the issues and to ask questions.</div> <div> Judge Kenny said, “Serving three days on jury duty is not a bad experience, and is a citizenship responsibility.” He said, “We need intelligent, committed citizens willing to do the right thing.”</div> <div> In addition to Judge Kenny, participants included Judge Arthur J. Lombard of the 3rd Circuit Court, and three of the seven candidates for the Circuit Court's non-incumbent position--Mary Catherine Kedzior, Margaret M. Tobin, and James A. Callahan. The June 15 forum was held at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.</div> <div> <I><B>Two Divisions of 3rd Circuit Court</B></I></div> <div> As one of 63 judges in the 3rd Circuit Court, <B>Judge Kenny</B> serves in its criminal division where 15,000 felony cases are heard annually, and trials involve a jury.</div> <div> He explained, “We need people to make a commitment to serve in juries, it's not a bad experience.”</div> <div> “Three days is not too burdensome a task. Think about the sacrifice of our soldiers fighting for freedom,” the judge said.<IMG SRC="d90c8340.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="308" ALT="Hon. Arthur J. Lombard of the 3rd Circuit Court" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="4"></div> <div> As for the August balloting, Judge Kenny's election is assured, as he is one of 19 incumbent judges running for the 19 “six-year term” positions on the August 3 primary ballot.</div> <div> Also addressing the group was <B>Judge Lombard</B> who serves in the 3<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >rd</FONT> Circuit Court's family division and handles domestic relations. According to Judge Lombard, this division has no jury trials, sees a high volume of cases--700-800 active cases at any given time--and is short of staff needed to handle a growing caseload.</div> <div> Family division cases involve divorce, child support, and personal protection orders. Judge Lombard said that it could be a highly emotional environment. Speaking of his role, the judge said, “Just try to keep it calm--dispassionately helping people to resolve their issues.”</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="145" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 230 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="d988ce00.jpg" border=0 width="140" height="224" ALT="Mary Catherine Kedzior, candidate for Wayne County Circuit Judge" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 230 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="d998ce00.jpg" border=0 width="140" height="224" ALT="Margaret M. Tobin, candidate for Wayne County Circuit Judge" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 230 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="d9a8ce00.jpg" border=0 width="140" height="224" ALT="James A. Callahan, candidate for Wayne County Circuit Judge" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Judge Lombard invited the public to visit his courtroom to gain a better understanding of the problems encountered today by many in our community. He explained that disputes range from who will control large sums of money to fights over possession of the beer mugs. Judge Lombard's position is not on the August 3 primary ballot.</div> <div> <I><B>Race for 3rd Circuit Non-incumbent Position</B></I></div> <div> Of special local interest is the seven-way race for the single non-incumbent position on the 3rd Circuit Court. Voters will narrow the large field in the Tuesday, August 3, primary election. The two candidates polling the greatest number of votes in that election will appear on the November 2 general election ballot. The winner will serve on the Wayne County Circuit Court for six years.</div> <div> ERC member and local prosecuting attorney <A HREF="http://maryckedzior.tripod.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://maryckedzior.tripod.com/"><U><B>Mary Kedzior</B></U></A> was the first of three candidates for the Circuit Court position to address the group. She said, “My aim in life is to make a difference.” Her 23 years of legal experience includes 12 years as staff attorney with the Wayne County Friend of the Court, specializing in child support enforcement. Kedzior is a resident of the Park.</div> <div> Also speaking at the forum was <B>Margaret Tobin</B>, mediator attorney, and a Circuit Court candidate. She highlighted her experience in private law practice with its emphasis on family law. Tobin lives in the Park.</div> <div> The third Circuit Court candidate to speak to the group was <B>James Callahan</B>. He outlined his 32 years' experience in domestic and criminal law. Callahan is a local trial attorney and resident of the City.</div> <div> The four candidates not present were Stephen P. Korn, Audrey J. Monaghan, Lynne A. Pierce, and Ronald Giles.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> >><I>View helpful diagram of </I><A HREF="http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/resources/other/orgchart03-22-02.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/resource"><U><I>Michigan court system</I></U></A><I>.</I></div> <div> The Eastside Republican Club Forum is held on the third Tuesday of the month from September through June. Admission is free and the public is always welcome. For more information, contact chairman Ed Joseph at (313) 343-2900.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#top_of_page" TITLE="Judicial Forum"><U>back to top</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>