Occupation / Current Position
Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
Education
B.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan. J.D. Wayne State University Law School.
I am seeking re-election for Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court to continue strengthening a justice system that is fair, accessible, and responsive to the people it serves. My 15 year appellate attorney background equipped me to decide cases and improve how courts serve families, workers, and communities—expanding access to justice, resourcing problem-solving courts, and improving child welfare outcomes. I’ve collaborated with all lower and tribal courts so our judiciary works at every level. As a daughter of a former MI Supreme Court Chief Justice, I learned early that the law is not just a profession—it’s a responsibility to the public.
The Michigan Supreme Court is responsible for reviewing decisions from lower courts, interpreting Michigan’s laws and constitution, and overseeing how our judicial system is administered. As a judicial candidate, I can’t make policy promises or take stances on issues, but I can address expanding access to courts for people without legal representation, ensure courts are well resourced to serve communities, and safeguard a judiciary that is independent, transparent, and consistent. As Chief Justice, I’ll keep using the Court’s administrative responsibilities to ensure Michigan’s justice system remains grounded in fairness and the rule of law.
Michigan’s justice system faces institutional challenges, including access to justice, public trust in a fair judiciary, and ensuring courts have the tools and resources needed to serve communities fairly. The Supreme Court’s role is to use its administrative responsibilities to address these issues directly. As Chief Justice, I have prioritized problem solving courts, stronger legal representation for families, improved child welfare outcomes, expanded collaboration with tribal courts, and partnership with lower courts to strengthen the judicial system at every level.
Occupation / Current Position
Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
Education
B.A. Anthropology, Yale University. J.D. Harvard Law School.
I am seeking retention for Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court to continue serving as a fair, independent, and steady voice on the Court. My background serving as a trial judge, intermediate appellate judge, and justice of our state Supreme Court makes me uniquely well suited for this role. My approach has always been guided by a commitment to facts and impartiality, ensuring that every person who enters a courtroom is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. Born and raised in Detroit, I grew up in a family deeply rooted in public service, faith, and community leadership, and I bring those values to the integrity of the Court’s work.
The Michigan Supreme Court interprets Michigan’s laws and constitution, ensures consistency across lower courts, and oversees the administration of justice statewide. My priorities are to improve access to justice, strengthen public trust, and ensure courts are efficient, well resourced and grounded in the rule of law. This includes supporting problem solving courts, which I co-liaison, and Veterans Treatment Courts that promote accountability while addressing root causes of repeat involvement in the system.
Michigan’s justice system faces challenges like reducing financial, language, and informational barriers that keep people from fully accessing the courts, managing caseloads, and sustaining public trust at a time when institutional confidence is on the decline. The Supreme Court’s role here is administrative by setting court rules, ensuring courts are well resourced, and supporting problem solving courts. That work matters more than ever. I will keep deciding cases based on the law, the facts, and precedent, not personal preference, so Michiganders can trust that our courts remain fair, efficient, and accessible to all.
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Occupation / Current Position
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge
Education
B.A. Honors History, Wayne State University; J.D. cum laude, University of Michigan Law School
I have served on the Oakland County Circuit Court for over 23 years and have tried over 420 jury trials. I have more trial experience than the entire Supreme Court combined - times three. 5 of the 7 Justices never served as a judge prior to being on the Court. We also have an unbalanced 6-1 Democrat nominated majority. I possess the experience and proper rule of law perspective that the Supreme Court needs. The role of the Court is to apply the law fairly and impartially in light of what the People and Legislature intended, not to legislate from the bench. I have taught Constitutional and Business Law, and written history and civics books.
The Supreme Court has the final say on the meaning of our Constitution and law, including religious liberty, free speech and press, due process rights, business law, parental rights, and other key aspects of our lives. They also govern the Rules of Evidence, criminal and civil procedure, jury instructions, bar admissions, and attorney and judicial discipline. My top priorities would be to interpret the law in fidelity with the intention of the lawmakers, and ensuring justice and fairness throughout the court system without favoritism. I would also continue my work with Patriot Week and civics education to help K-12 students.
The lack of trial experience and 6-1 unbalanced composition of the Court are significant challenges which will be addressed by my election. In addition, our courts are overburdened, and additional judges and improved courthouse safety are needed. I was the first mandatory e-filing judge in the State, and many courts are in need of technology improvements to better administer justice. Poor history and civics education is driving crime up and distrust of government. The Supreme Court needs to be an able advocate to address these issues. I've also written The Revolutionary Words that Forged America - The Definitive Guide to the Declaration.
Occupation / Current Position
Real Estate Professional since 1983/Realtor
Education
1991 Bachelor's Degree - Business Administration & 2008 Bachelor's Degree in Family and Consumer Science - Madonna University
I'm seeking this seat because I've spent over a decade inside Michigan's probate system-not as a lawyer, but as an advocate who lived its failures - firsthand through my husband's case. I've documented fiduciary misconduct across 8 counties, requested accountability legislation, and testified before county boards and legislative committees. My 40+ years as a licensed real estate broker taught me to navigate Michigan's legal and regulatory systems rigorously. As a trained civil mediator, I bring practical conflict-resolution skills. The Court needs a Justice who has seen judicial procedures from the family's side of the bench.
The Michigan Supreme Court is Michigan's highest court—it interprets the laws in line with the Constitution & holds "general superintending control over all courts" (Art. VI, §4).
My priorities: Enforce the Canons in the Code of Judicial Conduct that the Michigan's Justices already wrote. Use superintending control to fix probate, family and civil court delays; require plain-language jury-trial notice; and create independent audit of judicial decisions—separate from existing complaint bodies. Hold attorney-fiduciaries accountable - not shielded by BAR membership because the judiciary exists for the litigant and public—not itself (Canon 1).
Michigan has dozens of BAR committees & private associations—judges, attorneys, prosecutors—wielding specialized authority with little MSC audit. The 3 accountability mechanisms (Attorney Grievance Comm, Judicial Tenure Comm, Attorney Discipline Board) are staffed largely by attorneys policing attorneys and judges. The JTC's own 2025 numbers show it: 580 of 698 investigation requests were dismissed because they sought review of a "legal ruling" outside its authority. Electing a non-attorney Justice brings the outside oversight this self-policing structure lacks —accountability for the litigant and public, not the profession policing itself.
