Candidates set for judge's seat

Daily Press and Argus ^ | 5-27-05 | Lisa Roose-Church

[Dan from Michigan]

Candidates set for judge's seat
By Lisa Roose-Church
Daily Press & Argus

The field of candidates hoping to replace the late Livingston County District Judge Michael K. Hegarty is set as the deadline to submit applications passed Thursday.

Although the governor''s office declined to say who and how many have applied, the Daily Press & Argus learned the field includes Livingston County Assistant Prosecutor William McCririe III, Howell attorneys Jay Drick and James Buttrey, Brighton attorneys Michael P. Hatty and Theresa Brennan and Magistrate Brian Brown.

The list of candidates also includes attorney Mark Reizen and county Assistant Prosecutor William J. Vailliencourt Jr., both of whom confirmed Thursday they applied for the judgeship.

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Fowlerville attorney William Mollison, who ran for Circuit Court judge last year, said he did not apply because he felt "it will be a political appointment."

"I have no political connections with the Democratic party," Mollison noted.

Brown, who says he has no political affiliation because he has to be nonpartisan as magistrate, admitted there may be "two or three people who will be on the inside track because of their party affiliation" lining with Granholm, who is a Democrat.

"But you trust in the process and wait and see what her decision is," Brown said. "(The governor) will have the choice of selecting someone who is politically affiliated if she feels that is appropriate."

Vailliencourt, a Republican, said he believes the governor "will consider broad qualifications" of the candidates in an effort to find a "well-qualified judge who has experience and knowledge."

(SNIP)

[Dan from Michigan]

The district judgeship covers Livingston County. When there's a vacancy, Granholm appoints a judge who will then run for re-election. Whoever Granholm picks will be up in 2006.

Judges run as "nonpartisan"(that is, their party isn't on the ballot). That said, we can all assume a democrat is going to be appointed(Sorry Bill, if you're reading this). The three democrats (not sure which party James Buttrey is) are Theresa Brennan, Mark Reizen, and Michael Hatty. Reizen works outside of the county and when he ran for judge, most of his support came from the Detroit area. He donated to Carl Marlinga(Center-left). Michael Hatty is more of a moderate democrat tied closely to former Judge Burress. I've heard he's pro-life. He's probably the best we can get unless Granholm surprises us all and appoints Brian Brown or a Republican. The one that worries me is Theresa Brennan. She's an ultra liberal more at home in Ann Arbor than here. She gave $10000 to Stabenow, and is known both for ultraliberal views(Planned Parenthood advocate, reportedly anti-2nd amendment, Stabenow fan) and for not having the best judicial temperment.

This is a 60%+ GOP county, so we could have a strongly contested election in 06, especially if a uberliberal like Theresa Brennan is appointed(which I suspect). The last thing I want to see is someone like Theresa Brennan end up in a Federal lifetime appointment position or at the State's higher courts. We're going to have to be ready for an election battle there in 2006.