Five judicial positions open on ballot

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Voters in Isabella County will vote to fill five judicial positions in November.

Eight candidates are running for the five non-partisan positions; one on the Michigan Supreme Court, three on the 4th District Court of Appeals and one on the 76th District Court.

Supreme Court

Cliff Taylor, Diane Marie Hathaway and Robert W. Roddis will be vying for one position on the Michigan Supreme Court. The winner will serve an eight-year term.

Taylor is the incumbent and is currently the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. He has served on the court for nine years and was nominated by the Republican Party.

“Each party nominates a candidate, so you can always count on a race in the Supreme Court elections, unlike other courts,” said Colleen Pero, campaign manager for Taylor.

Pero explained that judicial conservatives constitute a 4-3 majority on the Michigan Supreme Court now; the conservative majority will hold if Taylor is re-elected, and the court will see a liberal majority if he is not.

“The current Supreme Court applies the law as it is written by legislature and (the justices) do not put their own agenda into it,” Pero said. “We want to keep that.”

His main opponent, Hathaway, has served as a Wayne County Circuit Court justice for 15 years and was nominated by the Democratic Party.

Hathaway is concerned about a recently signed law regarding drug company liability, said Carmen Carter, media relations director for the Hathaway campaign.

Carter said the law holds that if drugs are approved by the FDA, Drug Companies are not responsible for any injuries that result from their use.

“It’s dangerous. Individuals have suffered,” she said.

Pero said that the Michigan legislature, not the courts, should be responsible for changing the law.

Roddis has been practicing law for 28 years and was nominated by the Libertarian Party.

Other Judicial Elections

The 4th District Court of Appeals serves the residents of 58 counties in Michigan, including the entire Upper Peninsula.

Alton T. Davis and Patrick Murphy Meter are running unopposed for two incumbent positions. Michael J. Kelly and Paula Manderfield will run for one non-incumbent position.

According to their Web sites, Kelly has been in private practice for 20 years and Manderfield has been serving on District and Circuit courts for 16 years.

Incumbent Bill Rush is running unopposed to continue serving as a justice for the 76th District Court.

Voters should be concerned about judicial elections, Carter said, because when the courts are fair and impartial, they will serve the people and protect their rights.

“One vote does make a difference,” she said, concerning the position that will be filled on the Michigan Supreme Court in November.

Judicial races generate less attention than most other elections and may be overlooked in the hype of the 2008 presidential election.

“It seems like no one in our generation knows anything about the judicial elections because they think it doesn’t affect them – but it does,” said Battle Creek freshman Kelsey Werner. “We should be better informed.”

Carter said this election is important because the Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in Michigan and the justices who serve on it make important decisions that affect everyone.

Judicial elections are non-partisan, so those who vote straight-ticket on the ballot must also chose justices individually.

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