Age
32
Biography
I am a University of Michigan and Wayne State Law School graduate, a former assistant prosecuting attorney, and the current Domestic Relations Referee and On-Call Magistrate. I moved to Escanaba as an intern during law school and have spent my entire legal career practicing in Delta County. I married Darby Beckon, and we have two dogs, Muffy and Scruffy, that we adopted from the animal shelter.
Education
Political Science and Psychology Major from the University of Michigan. Juris doctor from Wayne State Law School.
Facebook page
Andrew Hayse for 94th District Court Judge
I served as the assistant prosecuting attorney for Delta County where I prosecuted criminal cases. I also represented petitioners on mental health commitments as well as the Department of Health and Human Services in child abuse and neglect cases.
From there, I moved on to become the Domestic Relations Referee. I wear a robe like a judge and preside over family court cases on behalf of the judges. I have court hearings and make decisions similar to a judge. The major difference is there is a right to an objection and a hearing before my supervising judges.
I also work in the District Court as an On-Call Magistrate reviewing search warrants and setting bonds on criminal cases.
Substance abuse and mental health are serious issues that harm a person’s ability to have a normal life. To continue fighting against substance abuse, I will enforce meaningful bonds, tailor conditions to the crime, and prioritize Drug Court. When mental health is untreated, it can lead to crime, homelessness, and interpersonal issues. We should create a Mental Health Court that mirrors our Drug Court.
Additionally, a lack of attorneys in our area is a serious problem. Our prosecutor’s office and public defenders are understaffed and overworked. The wait times to see an attorney and for a court date are too long. We need to attract attorneys to the area and we can do that by offering a paid, public interest internship.
Michigan Court Rule 6.106 governs how bond is decided. The type of crime, the likelihood of a defendant reappearing in court, the danger to the community, the criminal history of the defendant, presence of substance abuse or mental health issues, and connections to the community are all factors that must be weighed. Cash bond and bond conditions must be weighed to produce the least restrictive restrictions considering all these factors.
For sentences, judges must consider whether a sentence can deter future crime, whether it can prevent future crime, whether a sentence is proportional to the crime committed, whether a defendant can be reformed, and the needs of the victim.
A judge’s job is to interpret the law, not make it. I believe that beginning with the text and plain meaning of a statute or ordinance is the best way to be consistent and fair in interpreting the law.
It is also a judge’s job to look after and uphold the natural and constitutional rights of all people. A judge is the last line of defense to ensure our rights are protected. When there is equal merit to an argument, judges should err on the side of protecting individual liberty and civil rights.
A judge must listen and give everyone a fair opportunity to be heard. They have to think about public safety and the likelihood of crime being committed again.
A judge’s job is difficult. Doing a good job requires experience that matters.
I used to serve as an advocate, but for the past four years, I have served in a quasi-judicial role. As a referee, I have managed a courtroom and a docket. I have made decisions on evidentiary objections, made findings and recommendations, conducted legal research, and attended judicial trainings with judges from around the state.
Being a referee or magistrate is very different from being an advocate. It requires a skill that cannot be taught, but instead requires time and practice that only comes from actually doing the job. Judge Goebel used to say that it takes a judge 10 years to really get into the role. I believe my current experience would give me a 4 year head start.
Campaign Phone
906-786-7885
Age
51
Biography
Trent was born and raised in Delta County by his parents Frank and Penny Stupak and graduated from Escanaba Area High School in 1994. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2001, and has been practicing law the past 25 years in Michigan. Trent resides in Escanaba with his wife, Amy, and their two children, Spencer and Camryn. He spends his leisure time with family events and several local charitable organizations.
Education
Juris Doctor from Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law - 2001
Facebook page
stupakforjudge
I have practiced law in Delta County for the past 25 years and appeared in 13 of the 15 Upper Peninsula counties, including cases in district, circuit, and probate court. I have practiced in Federal court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan and appeared in Michigan appellate courts and tribal courts throughout the Upper Peninsula. My experiences include: criminal defense; domestic relations; child custody; civil litigation; driver’s license restoration; business litigation; wills and estate planning; landlord-tenant; debtor/creditors rights; probate litigation; worker’s compensation; real estate law; federal criminal and civil litigation; forfeiture actions; tax tribunal matters; bankruptcy; and equitable actions.
The most critical issues are the availability of attorneys for the indigent, funding for programs such as the Drug and Sobriety Court, and the high recidivism rate. I would address attorney availability by working with state legislators, county officials, and administrators to secure funding for a public defender's office which will employ local attorneys rather than paying for outside attorneys. I would secure grants to guarantee adequate funding for the Drug and Sobriety Court which would include an expanded mental health component, staffing resources, and professional development. Finally, I will work with court staff to ensure rehabilitative efforts are maximized through pre-trial services to address high recidivism rates.
Having represented clients for 25 years, I know the need to consider many factors in sentencing. For instance, the offenders criminal record, age, needs for rehabilitation, and case circumstances are all important. I will consider recommendations from the prosecutor and defense attorney in sentencing orders and rely on probation staff to prepare presentence investigation reports. In determining bail, I will rely on factors outlined in law, including: prior criminal record, history of violence, prior bond violations, mental health, addictions, and a person's employment record and ties to the community . It's necessary to properly balance the constitutional rights of an accused with the public's safety. Overall, it is a case-by-case basis.
My philosophy is that a judge must be firm, but fair. A judge must be decisive and also use common sense. There are many circumstances in which common sense should be applied to achieve a fair outcome for both sides. Also, a judge's consistency in handling both the procedural and substantive matters is critical. Being both decisive and predictable makes for fairness in our judicial system. Finally, having patience with litigants and the proper judicial temperament is important so that all litigants, represented, or unrepresented, know their matters are being heard. A litigant who has their day in court is often satisfied that justice has been served, regardless of the outcome. Being fair, but firm will ensure respect for the judiciary.
Certainly there will be cases in which I will have to recuse myself, which will likely be a result of past representation of a litigant when I was an advocate. This isn't a problem, however, as the State Court Administrator's Office reassigns these cases. Other than recusals, I believe the transition will be smooth. Having worked in district court the last 25 years, I have a working knowledge of the court's duties. Working with many judges throughout the Upper Peninsula provides me with a blueprint for what does and doesn't work in our system. Finally, having handled administrative duties in a law office provides appropriate background to handle those duties for which a district court judge is responsible when not presiding in court.
