NEWSLETTER
   JANUARY  2021 
January 2021 Newsletter Headlines
 
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WE LOST
In Loving Memory:
Your presence we miss, your memory we treasure, loving you always, forgetting you never.
 

 Sheriff Benny Napoleon served as the Wayne County Sheriff.  He was appointed County Sheriff in 2009 and kept that position after winning subsequent elections through 2020.  Sheriff Napoleon started his career with the Detroit Police Department in 1975. Under Dennis Archer, he served as police chief from 1998 to 2001. In 2004, he was made Assistant Wayne County Executive, and in 2009, he became Wayne County Sheriff.  Sheriff Napoleon was a lifelong Detroiter. Born in Detroit, he was one of seven children. Napoleon graduated from Cass Technical High School, earned a Bachelor's degree from University of Detroit Mercy, and a Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law. 



Hon. Isidore B. Torres was appointed to the Detroit Recorder's Court in 1989 by Govenor John Engler.  Judge Torres joined the Third Circuit Court when Detroit Recorder's Court and Third Circuit Court merged in 1997.  Judge Torres served for  20+ years until he retired from the bench in 2010.  As the first Hispanic Judge to serve in the Wayne County court system, Judge Torres' appointment expanded the community's view of what a judge looks like.  Judge Torres was remembered by judicial colleagues as a fearless fighter for civil rights especially for the Latino community. Judge Torres graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and received a Juris Doctorate degree from Wayne State University Law School.

 
 
The Third Circuit Court Diversity and Inclusion Team's Mission:
 
"We appreciate our common connection and respect our diverse and unique human experiences.  We move forward as an inclusive organization as we provide accessible and equal justice."
 
The Court's Diversity & Inclusion Team strives to ensure the values of its diverse bench, staff, and court users are acknowledged and reflected in our delivery of service as well as our work environment.
 
In that spirit, the team creates and shares a monthly list of various holidays and observations along with some celebration suggestions.  We invite our work community and the community at large to contribute.

February 2021

National Freedom Day -
February 1
National Thank a Mail Carrier Day - February 4
International Day of Women and Girls in Science - 
February 11
Lincoln's Birthday - 
February 12
Valentine's Day - 
February 14
World Marriage Day - 
February 14
Presidents' Day - 
February 15 
Random Acts of Kindness Day - February 17
National Love Your Pet Day - February 20
Washington's Birthday - 
February 22







Join our E-mail List and receive our monthly E-mail newsletter from the Third Judicial Circuit Court and stay informed. 

Please send us your name and email address to - 
[email protected]

Happy New Year,
 
What are your 2021 goals, resolutions, and intentions? 
 
Good health is probably topping the list.  Statista Global Consumer Survey reported that 44% of U.S. Americans who shared their lists of resolutions indicated they wanted to exercise more, and 42% planned to eat healthier in 2021.  Not surprising, in light of how long we've been social distancing and not gathering with loved ones for celebrations, 34% wanted to spend more time with family and friends.  Less time on social media, improve job performance, and reducing job stress also made the top of the list.
 
The New Year signals a new beginning, a clean slate, a fresh perspective, and a commitment to put forth our best selves. 
 
As an organization, Third Circuit Court has a resolution to be better and do better this year as well.  When we put our best selves forward, everyone benefits. 
 
Welcome to 2021 and "Happy New Year!"

ADULT SPECIALTY COURT SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DETROIT WAYNE INTEGRATED HEALTH NETWORK HOST 2nd HOLIDAY RELAPSE PREVENTION FORUM
 
Adult Specialty Court Services were honored to co-host their 2nd Holiday Relapse Prevention Forum for program participants on December 11, 2020, via Zoom. This would not have been possible without the partnership with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) and its leaders, Darlene Owens, Director of Substance Abuse Disorders, Initiatives and Andrea Smith, Director of Training and Program Development.
 
There were over 30 participants in attendance, in addition to Court staff, presenters, and community partners.
 
The purpose of this forum was to provide participants with firsthand accounts by those who have overcome their addiction and/or successfully managed their mental health issues and how to recognize triggers associated with the holidays; celebrations, depression, feelings of loneliness during a pandemic.
 
The attendees were fortunate to have four amazing speakers; Dr. Andre Johnson, presidential award winning, CEO of Detroit Recovery Project; Dr. Carla Spight-Mackey, Clinical Specialist, DWIHN; Andre Rison, Flint, Michigan native and NFL star; and Kristal Reyes, from NSO Stay Well Substance Abuse.
 
Each speaker left the audience with some nuggets of wisdom; such as, "Get Your Armor On." "No Excuses."-Dr. Carla Spight-Mackey; "We recover one day at a time." "No slips, no dips, no weekend trips."-Dr. Andre Johnson; and "You have to have the patience for the commitment."-Andre Rison.
 
Ms. Reyes left us with a 24/7 hotline for those in need. You can reach the Stay Well Hotline at (888) 535-6136, press #8 for a live counselor. All calls are confidential.
 
We look forward to providing this forum next year.

Holiday Greetings from Japan

Judge OOSUKA Hiroyuki, Director, Secretary Division General Secretariat of the Supreme Court of Japan, sent a holiday card during the December holiday season. The Court also received greetings from Judge Toshihiko Fujii (Our 2016 visiting judge) who is now hearing criminal cases in Tokyo District Court and from Judge Masahiro Dogauchi (Our 2019 visiting judge) who is working with Judge Fujii in Tokyo District Court.  Congratulations are in order; Judge Fujii shared that he married last year as well. 
 
We wish Judge Hiroyuki, Judge Fujii, Judge Dogauchi, and all of the Visiting Judges from Japan a happy and prosperous 2021!
 
This Visiting Judge Program was started in 1972 and Judge Toshinobu Akiyama was the first judge to visit the Court. The program allowed the visiting judge to research and observe the operations of the Third Circuit Court and the U.S. District Court. The program is currently suspended, but the relationship and good will continues.