Let's Fill The Month With Kindness

NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 2020

November 2020 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.

Hon. Dalton A. Roberson served on the Detroit Recorder's Court and Third Circuit Court for 28+ years and returned as a Visiting Judge for another five years.  

Durick Williams served as a Police Sergeant for the Wayne County Sheriff's Department.  He was assigned to the Court's Division for the majority of his career.  He started with the Department back in 2003.

Jordan Taylor is Court Administration's new intern. He is currently a senior at Detroit Cristo Rey. Some of his hobbies are playing basketball, playing video games, and cars. He is very outgoing and helpful. He is opened to learning new things and constructive criticism and how he can improve on what he did wrong. He is very happy to be here and he plans on being here until the school year is over.

On November 17, 2020 the 43^rd CASA Swearing-In was held via Zoom at Lincoln Hall of Justice. Five candidates who successfully completed the curriculum were sworn in by the Honorable Edward J. Joseph.

Deputy Court Administrator Richard Smart, Chief Referee James Catchings and Chief Assistant of Administration Operations, ToieLynn Smith expressed greetings and words of encouragement to all of the new CASA volunteers.

Congratulations to: Nicole Eutsler, Colleen M.Mclellan, Donna Morgan, Amanda Sarhatt, and Megan Serement.

CASA Mission statement:

"The Wayne County CASA program will advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children, court proceedings, by providing trained community volunteers."

ENJOY THE OUTDOORS!

Research shows outdoor activities have increased during this time. In fact, virtual 5K's, marathons, and other outdoor activities have been created to help deal with stress and boredom. We appreciate those who shared their activities with us. If you would like to feature your pic and enjoying the great outdoors or other ways you are channeling your energy in hobbies during this pandemic, please send your photo to [email protected].

Judge Lynne Pierce and her husband, Raymond Andary, have been going to the state parks throughout Michigan and hiking. Here is one of their trips to Ludington State Park.

Jeannette Heacox enjoyed outside activities with her family, such as biking, swimming, kayaking, and camping throughout Michigan. She also completed multiple virtual races and

one in-person sprint triathlon.

ECA Zenell Brown enjoyed getting out and walking in her neighborhood. On this day, she was walking for Domestic Violence Awareness.

Michigan Safety Alert

To break the chain of infection, Michigan Department and Health and Human Services is calling anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19. If you get a call from (866) 806-3447, MI COVID HELP or your local health department, please answer. Michigan.gov/ContainCOVID

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.

December 2020

World AIDS Day - December 1

National Pie Day - December 1 (not to be confused with National Pi day on March 14)

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - December 3

Pearl Harbor Day - December 7

Inclusive Schools Week - December 7 - 11

Bodhi Day - December 8

Human Rights Day - December 10

Human Rights Week - December 10 - 17

Milad un Nabi - December 13

Bill of Rights Day - December 15

International Migrants Day - December 18

Hanukkah - December 10 - 18

Winter Solstice - December 21

Yule - December 21 - January 1

Christmas Eve - December 24

Christmas - December 25

Zartosht No-Diso - December 26

Boxing Day - December 26

Kwanzaa - December 26 - January 1

Wounded Knee Day - December 29

New Year's Eve - December 31

Dec 24, 2020 - Dec 31, 2020

Holiday Season
Jan 01, 2021 - New Year's Day

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]

Greetings,

It is nine months later and COVID is still here. Unquestionably, it is challenging trying to have a work life and personal life during the pandemic. During the summer we could take to the outdoors and find a piece of normalcy. As we approach our major holiday seasons, we will have to be creative when it comes to holiday traditions and celebrations. Undoubtedly our holiday gatherings will be smaller and our in-person shopping excursions more limited, but our kindness, joy, and thanksgiving can in fact increase. We can remember extended families, friends, and our former cubicle buddies with texts, phone calls, handwritten notes, and cards. We can flood our Instagram account with the pictures of gorgeous turkeys and trimmings. We can share in our Facebook stories pictures of children enjoying the holiday. We can trade photos of our pets in their holiday gear. The options are unlimited. So although this may be a different kind of holiday season, we can still fill it with kindness.

Chief Judge Timothy M. Kenny's Remarks

from the October 19, 2020 reception for

Judges Craig Strong and Ulysses Boykin

First of all on behalf of myself and all of the judges and staff at the Third Circuit Court I want to extend congratulations to both Judge Strong and Judge Boykin for illustrious careers served here in the Third Circuit Court.

As a first-year law student at the University of Minnesota Law School, Professor Donald Marshall was fond of telling the students "Never whisper justice." For a combined 62 years Judges Strong and Boykin have never whispered justice. The citizens of Wayne County and the people of the state of Michigan have benefitted from that commitment to justice.

As you have heard earlier this evening, Judges Strong and Boykin were not judges who simply did their dockets and went home. They devoted time and energy to improve the practice of law and to improve lives in our community. Both were committed to people and causes to improve life for others in Wayne County. Their commitment to improving the practice of law, as well as our community is reflected in their both being named Champions of Justice by the Michigan State Bar.

Whether serving in leadership roles in Bar organizations, helping veterans, helping children at Christmas, helping with the founding and flourishing of a museum, Judges Strong and Boykin have strengthened the legal profession and the quality of life in Wayne County.

Being entirely objective, I believe the Third Circuit Court is an exceptional institution in our state. The Court is exceptional not just for the skills brought by the many judges that serve our community, but because judges like Craig Strong and Ulysses Boykin have devoted themselves to improving lives within our community. Our Bench and Wayne County residents have benefitted from their efforts, commitments, and their service. On behalf of the Third Circuit Court family we extend our thanks for all you have done.

Click here to view the presentation.

Congratulations to Judge Craig Strong for receiving the Wiley A. Branton Award at the National Bar Association's annual Wiley A. Branton Symposium.

Virtual Admission Ceremony for Lawyers

Thank you to the leadership of the Third Circuit Court, the Wayne County Clerk's Office, and the Detroit Bar Association who made the Virtual Admission Ceremony for Lawyers a reality.

Thank you to Chief Judge Timothy M. Kenny who presided over the special court session, Judge Mariam Bazzi who administered the oath, and Judge Noah P. Hood who delivered the welcoming address.

Thank you to the other judges and dignitaries who attended the ceremony and reception: Third Circuit Court Judges: Chief Judge Timothy M. Kenny; Chief Judge Pro Tem Judge Patricia P. Fresard ; Judge David J. Allen; Judge Mariam Bazzi; Judge Edward Ewell, Jr.; Judge David A. Groner; Judge Noah P. Hood; Judge Carla G. Testani; and Wayne County Probate Court Judge Judy Hartsfield

Thank you to the representatives from the law schools who participated: University of Detroit- Mercy School of Law: Sarah Garrison, Director of Bar Preparation and Kate Brink Harrison, Director of Career Services; University of Michigan Law School: Beth Chen, Office of Career Planning and Anne Linder, Attorney-Counselor, Office of Career Planning; Wayne State University Law School: Tishia Browning, Director of Employer Development; Krystal Gardner, Assistant Dean of Career and Professional Development; and Meghan Short, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs; and Western Michigan University Cooley Law School: Shari Lesnick, Associate Director of Career and Professional Development.

Thank you to Melissa Harding, the Court Reporter who took the record. A transcript of the proceedings can be ordered.

Thank you to the family and friends of the Bar Passers who attended the ceremony.

And most of all, congratulations to the newly admitted attorneys to the State of Michigan Bar. Like Judge Hood stated, "For all of you this also represents the start of many more months and years of hard work and preparation. Today is not so much an endpoint, but an embarkation point. ... Each of you is about to do something you have not done before."

Congratulations:

Adriana Nicole Aguilera

Najah Salim Allaham

Joseph Robert Allison

Hillary Rahim Bahri

Emily Suzanne Beukema

Donald James Brewer, Jr.

Shantinique De'Janelle Brooks

Diana Elizabeth Carmichael-Owens

Cesilie Jayde Cordovilla

Jacob Alexander Derrick

Franceska Noel Edinger

Priscilla Marie Esquivel

Emily Brynn Garcia

Isabelle Veronique Gavriloski

Priscilla Ghita

Kareem Benjamin Gibson

Brittany Lewis Gitau

Jeffery Brant Graber

Zachary David Hicks

Erica Lynn Jilek

Carlotta Marie Jones

Margaret Elizabeth Kelly

Alexander Giovanni Khalifeh

Laura Ali Kharroubi

Jessica Marie Lebeis

Mitchell Steven Mantey

Kevin John Mitchell

David Armando Occhiuto

Dakota Michael Offman

Dawn Shoultz Opel

Lauren Marie Pereny

Heather Nagrocki Powers

Lisa-Gaye Carrie Smith

Daria Suzanne Solomon

Joshua Robert Starr

Helena Marie Taminski

Alexandra Elizabeth Wolf

Amanda Victoria Lynn Woods

In honor of Veteran's Day, the Third Circuit Court chose to highlight those who served in the military. Those who have served have protected the freedoms of this nation. First, the Court recognizes all of those who graduated and are currently enrolled in our Veterans Treatment Court (VTC). The VTC promotes sobriety, recovery and stability through a coordinated response that involves cooperation and collaboration with the traditional partners found in problem-solving courts, with the addition of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care networks, Veterans Benefits Administration, and veterans and veterans' family support organizations.

The Court also salutes its judges and employees who have served in the various branches of the military. Our national flag waves proudly because of your courage and selfless service.

What Is A Veteran?

A "Veteran" - whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserved - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of up to, and including his life." That is honor. ~Unknown