Of Interest

2022 State Bar of Michigan Election Notice

 

Michigan Bar Journal

SBM Elections

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Members of the State Bar of Michigan are hereby notified that the following elections will be held in June 2022:

  • A statewide election for a non-judicial member of the Judicial Tenure Commission
  • Elections for 68 members of the Representative Assembly in 40 judicial circuits
  • Elections for seven members of the Board of Commissioners in five commissioner districts
  • Elections for members of the Young Lawyers Section Executive Council in three districts

Petitions (linked below) must be filed with the State Bar, not earlier than Friday, April 1, nor later than Saturday, April 30.

Nominating petitions for all elections also are available on pages 44-48 in the March 2022 issue of the Michigan Bar Journal.

Please use the following procedures for completing and submitting petitions:

  • Scan and email your completed petitions to csharlow@michbar.org, rather than faxing or mailing them.
  • As a substitute for physical signatures, we will accept “electronic confirmation of nomination” signatures in the following format:

I support the nomination of [CANDIDATE ATTORNEY’S NAME] to serve on the [POSITION] for the [XX] District/Circuit.
My office is located in the [XX] District/Circuit.
[NOMINATING ATTORNEY’S NAME]
[NOMINATING ATTORNEY’S P NUMBER]
[NOMINATING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ADDRESS] 

  • All “electronic confirmation signatures” must be attached and emailed to csharlow@michbar.org when submitting a nominating petition.

Electronic ballots for the 2022 election will be distributed no later than June 1, 2022, and must be  received, postmarked, or completed online no later than June 15, 2022. Ballots will be sent to the email address on file with the State Bar. To ensure you receive a ballot and notifications about the election, please make certain that the State Bar has your current email address on file at e.michbar.org/Account/My-Profile.

Ballots will be distributed no later than June 1, 2022, and must be received postmarked or completed online no later than June 15, 2022.

If you have questions, contact Marge Bossenbery at mbossenbery@michbar.org or Carrie Sharlow at csharlow@michbar.org.

JUDICIAL TENURE COMMISSION

Active members will elect one non-judicial member of the Judicial Tenure Commission for a term of three years, beginning on Jan. 1, 2023, and expiring on Dec. 31, 2025. Article 6, Section 30 of the Michigan Constitution provides that three of the Commission’s nine members shall be State Bar members elected by the members of the State Bar. One of these shall be a judge and two shall not be judges. The seat to be filled by an election in 2022 is to be held by a member who is not a judge. It is now held by:

Thomas J. Ryan

Any active member of the State Bar who is not a judge may be nominated by petitions bearing the signatures of not fewer than 50 active members of the State Bar. No member may sign a nominating petition for more than one Judicial Tenure Commission candidate. All signatures in violation of this rule will be deemed invalid. It is suggested to persons circulating petitions that at least 75 signatures be obtained to ensure that at least 50 valid signatures remain should any be ruled invalid or be found illegible and therefore unverifiable.

REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

Active members in certain judicial circuits will elect members of the Representative Assembly for their circuits as follows:

  1. The terms of certain elected members of the Assembly from judicial circuits as indicated below will expire at the close of the September 2022 meeting of the Representative Assembly. These seats are to be filled by election in June 2022 for terms of three years.
  2. Vacancies in certain judicial circuits as indicated below are to be filled by election for the balance of the respective unexpired terms. The candidates elected will assume their office immediately upon the certification of their election in June 2022.
  3. Terms of Assembly members in certain judicial circuits as indicated below, who serve by virtue of interim appointment by the Representative Assembly to fill seats for which there were no candidates for election in 2021, expire immediately upon certification of the election of their successors in June 2022 for the balance of the respective unexpired terms.

NOTE
* Cannot run for reelection having served two consecutive three-year terms.
+ Assembly interim appointee eligible to run for election

1ST CIRCUIT – HILLSDALE COUNTY

Elect 1 for a two-year term expiring at the close of the September 2024 Representative Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

2ND CIRCUIT – BERRIEN COUNTY

Elect 1 for a two-year term expiring at the close of the September 2024 Representative Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

3RD CIRCUIT – WAYNE COUNTY

Elect 2 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

Elect 1 for a two-year term expiring at the close of the September 2024 Representative Assembly meeting.

Elect 2 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representative Assembly meeting.

+Ponce D. Clay, Detroit
*Daniel J. Ferris, Detroit
Kristina Robinson Garrett, Detroit
+Lisa Whitney Timmons, Detroit
1 Vacancy

4TH CIRCUIT – JACKSON COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

Rebecca K. Arnold, Jackson

6TH CIRCUIT – OAKLAND COUNTY

Elect 8 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

Elect 2 for a two-year term expiring at the close of the September 2024 Representative Assembly meeting.

*Michael J. Blau, Farmington
Karen R. Geibel, Troy
Peter M. Grace, Birmingham
Edward L. Haroutunian, Bingham Farms
Emily A. Karr, New Hudson
Joshua A. Lerner, Royal Oak
Michael E. Sawicky, Farmington Hills
Jennifer R. Turchyn, Troy
2 Vacancies

7TH CIRCUIT – GENESEE COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

Sean M. Siebigteroth, Grand Blanc

9TH CIRCUIT – KALAMAZOO COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

Paul J. Yancho, Kalamazoo

12TH CIRCUIT – BARAGA, HOUGHTON, AND KEWEENAW COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

Matthew C. Eliason, Hancock

13TH CIRCUIT – ANTRIM, GRAND TRAVERSE, AND LEELANAU COUNTIES

Elect 3 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

John R. Blakeslee, Traverse City
Agnieszka Jury, Traverse City
James L. Rossiter, Bellaire

16TH CIRCUIT – MACOMB COUNTY

Elect 3 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

*Randall Chioini, Mount Clemens
Tanya A. Grillo, Mount Clemens
Stephen M. Steinhardt, Mount Clemens

17TH CIRCUIT – KENT COUNTY

Elect 3 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

Elect 1 for a two-year term expiring at the close of the September 2024 Representative Assembly meeting.

Michael D. Adams, Grand Rapids
*Michael P. Hanrahan, Grand Rapids
Philip L. Strom, Grand Rapids
1 Vacancy

18TH CIRCUIT – BAY COUNTY

Elect 2 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representative Assembly meeting.

Amber L. Davis-Johnson, Bay City
Marcus R. Garske, Bay City

19TH CIRCUIT – BENZIE AND MANISTEE COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

20TH CIRCUIT – OTTAWA COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Christopher M. Wirth, Zeeland

21ST CIRCUIT – ISABELLA COUNTY

Elect 1 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

22ND CIRCUIT – WASHTENAW COUNTY

Elect 2 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Elizabeth C. Jolliffe, Ann Arbor
Marla A. Linderman Richelew, Ann Arbor

24TH CIRCUIT – SANILAC COUNTY

Elect 1 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

25TH CIRCUIT – MARQUETTE COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

*Erica N. Payne, Republic

26TH CIRCUIT – ALPENA AND MONTMORENCY COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

27TH CIRCUIT – NEWAYGO AND OCEANA COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

28TH CIRCUIT – MISSAUKEE AND WEXFORD COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

29TH CIRCUIT – CLINTON AND GRATIOT COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Sarah E. Huyser, Ithaca

30TH CIRCUIT – INGHAM COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Elect 1 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Stephen J. Gobbo, Lansing
1 Vacancy

31ST CIRCUIT – ST. CLAIR COUNTY

Elect 2 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Hilary B. Georgia, Port Huron
1 Vacancy

(Gerrow D. Mason is an incumbent, but as vice chair, he becomes chair for 2022–2023. Under the applicable rules, his tenure is extended without election so he can serve as chair. The authorized number of circuit mem­bers is increased by one. The seat allocated to Circuit 31 is filled by election.)

36TH CIRCUIT – VAN BUREN COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

37TH CIRCUIT – CALHOUN COUNTY

Elect 2 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Angela Easterday, Battle Creek
James L. Jordan, Battle Creek

38TH CIRCUIT – MONROE COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Elect 1 for a two-year term expiring at the close of the September 2024 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Anne M. McCarthy, Monroe
1 Vacancy

39TH CIRCUIT – LENAWEE COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

*Jennifer A. Frost, Adrian

40TH CIRCUIT – LAPEER COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Bernard A. Jocuns, Lapeer

41ST CIRCUIT – DICKINSON, IRON, AND MENOMINEE COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Christopher S. Ninomiya, Iron Mountain

42ND CIRCUIT – MIDLAND COUNTY

Elect 2 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

*Angela M. Cole, Midland
Christopher G. Komara, Midland

43RD CIRCUIT – CASS COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Kelley James-Jura, Cassopolis

44TH CIRCUIT – LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

David T. Bittner, Howell

46TH CIRCUIT – CRAWFORD, KALKASKA, AND OTSEGO COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Courtney E. Cadotte, Gaylord

48TH CIRCUIT – ALLEGAN COUNTY

Elect 1 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

49TH CIRCUIT – MECOSTA AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a one-year term expiring at the close of the September 2023 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

1 Vacancy

50TH CIRCUIT – CHIPPEWA COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Jason N. Rozencweig, Sault Sainte Marie

51ST CIRCUIT – LAKE AND MASON COUNTIES

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Tracie L. McCarn-Dinehart, Ludington

56TH CIRCUIT – EATON COUNTY

Elect 2 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

Timothy H. Havis, Charlotte
Adam H. Strong, Charlotte

57TH CIRCUIT – EMMET COUNTY

Elect 1 for a three-year term expiring at the close of the September 2025 Representa­tive Assembly meeting.

*Christina L. DeMoore, Petoskey

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Active members in certain commissioner election districts will elect members of the Board of Commissioners for their districts as follows: The terms of the following commis­sioners of the State Bar will expire at the close of the September 2022 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the State Bar.

The seats are to be filled by election in 2022 for terms of three years, commencing at the close of the September 2022 meeting of the Board of Commissioners. Following are the districts in which elections are to be held, the number of seats to be filled, and the names of the incumbents.

DISTRICT A – JUDICIAL CIRCUITS 11, 12, 13, 19, 23, 25, 26, 28, 32, 33, 34, 41, 46, 47, 50, 51, 53, AND 57

One seat – one incumbent
Suzanne C. Larsen, Marquette

DISTRICT C – JUDICIAL CIRCUITS 14, 17, 20, 21, 27, 49, AND 55

Two seats – One incumbent and one vacancy
Thomas G. Sinas, Grand Rapids

DISTRICT F – JUDICIAL CIRCUITS 1, 2, 5, 9, 15, 36, 37, 43, 45, AND 48

One seat – one vacancy

DISTRICT H – JUDICIAL CIRCUITS 3, 38, AND 39

One seat – one incumbent
Erika L. Bryant, Detroit

DISTRICT I – JUDICIAL CIRCUIT 6

Two seats – two incumbents
Sarah E. Kuchon, Troy
James W. Low, Southfield

Commissioners are nominated from among the active members of the State Bar having their principal offices within the commission­er election district. Any active member may circulate petitions for a candidate for district commissioner in his or her district. Five val­id signatures of members entitled to vote in that district are required to nominate.

No member may sign nominating petitions for more district commissioner candidates than there are seats to be filled in the dis­trict. All signatures in violation of this rule will be deemed invalid. It is suggested to persons circulating petitions that at least seven signatures be obtained to ensure that at least five valid signatures remain should any be ruled invalid or found illegible and therefore unverifiable.

YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

The members of the Young Lawyers Section will elect members of the executive council for their districts as follows: The terms of 10 executive council members expire at the close of the September 2022 Young Lawyers Section meeting. These seats are to be filled by election in June 2022 for terms of two years. Following are the districts in which elections are to be held, the number of seats to be filled, and the names of the incumbents.

DISTRICT 1 – MACOMB AND WAYNE COUNTIES

One seat – one vacancy

DISTRICT 2 – OAKLAND COUNTY

Four seats – three vacancies and one in­cumbent
Fawzeih H. Daher, Southfield

DISTRICT 3 – ALL MICHIGAN COUNTIES EX­CEPT MACOMB, OAKLAND, AND WAYNE

Five seats – two vacancies, three incumbents
Dustin C. Kamerman, Lansing
Miriam Saffo, Ann Arbor
Alexander J. Thibodeau, Grand Rapids

Executive council members shall be elected from the active membership of the Young Lawyers Section in the three districts by the active members having their address of re­cord on file with the State Bar therein. Any active member may circulate petitions for a candidate for council member in their dis­trict. Five valid signatures of members en­titled to vote for the nominee are required to nominate.

No member may sign nominating petitions for more executive council candidates than there are seats to be filled in the district. No member may sign nominating petitions for candidates outside of their district. All signatures in violation of these rules will be deemed invalid. It is suggested to persons circulating petitions that at least seven sig­natures be obtained to ensure that at least five valid signatures remain should any be ruled invalid or found illegible and there­fore unverifiable.