… A heartfelt “thank you” to everyone who supported me in my race for Washtenaw County Circuit Court judge. Unlike the Nassif texts, the contents of the messages between Simpson and Vargas were not retained. Simpson and Vargas have both denied any impropriety. The county seat is Ann Arbor. knowledgeable judge that understands probate law. Washtenaw County Courthouse. Patrick Conlin, Jr., Hon. Administration. School districts in Michigan | m_gallery_pagetype = "embed"; 2 Woodward Avenue Room 1707 Detroit, MI 48226 . To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. He got a hand from Easthope on his climb. The judge said it was the drunkest he's ever been. Nassif was quickly relieved of his positions at the 15th District Court and the DDA. disputes, lawsuits, and recounts, Submit a photo, survey, video, conversation, or bio. "I was trying to escape that pain," he said in a January interview. Either one of those things could have landed Easthope in hot water with the JTC. District Courts | The Washtenaw County Bar Association’s New Lawyers Section along with Co-Hosts ADR, Family Law, Real Estate, and Trial Practice Sections invite all WCBA members to attend! "I had never experienced this kind of pain before.". Voting in Michigan | In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. m_gallery_creation_date = "Saturday, August 15, 2015, 12:49 PM"; Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The JTC examiners also suggested that 14,000 text messages sent between Simpson and the intern in a four-month time span hinted at an improper relationship. Michigan General Election Results for Washtenaw County Circuit, District Court Judges (22nd Circuit, 14B District) on Nov. 3, 2020 Of that total, 79% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 554 court cases. Since Tabbey acknowledged his behavior and took a suspension, the JTC brought what it calls an informal complaint. The people of Washtenaw County are served by the Michigan Third District Court of Appeals, a circuit court, district court, and probate court. Archie Brown, Hon. Judge Frushour. Three area judges finding themselves in trouble in such a short period of time is a rare phenomenon. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; Michigan elections in 2021 | In a process run by a county clerk, the candidates choose slips of paper from a box that say either "elected" or "not elected".[2]. When a spot opened up on the DDA in 2011, Easthope recommended Nassif to then-Mayor John Hieftje, who said he put the young attorney's name forward. Deputies were contacted about two men who appeared heavily intoxicated were attempting to load a boat onto a trailer. Probate Courts | Taxes. Simpson has fought the accusations since day one and maintains he has close personal relationships with all his students and interns. Ann Arbor's 15th District Court Judge Christopher Easthope resigned amid a scandal prompted by a Freedom of Information Act request made by The Ann Arbor News for text messages between Easthope and Nader Nassif, a now-suspended attorney and former Downtown Development Authority member. This will be a great opportunity for new and experienced attorneys to get to know our judges better and to network! Federal courts | He said he helped her into the bedroom, where they had sex, according to the report. m_gallery_type = "photo"; Gallery: Washtenaw County judges in tangled web of trouble. House of Representatives | The Honorable Julia B. Owdziej is serving a 6 year term (expiring January 2021). Nassif told police he thought about calling 911, but the woman came to. Tabbey has served his suspension for drunken driving and is back on the bench. Judge Simpson. State Senate | Nassif was an up and comer in Ann Arbor's legal and political scene. The silence created when mere stories of unequal treatment of People of Color aren’t enough … The two smoked marijuana for a few days and walked around the city for inspiration, according to the police report. He is currently the Presiding Judge of the Family Division. Energy | Largest cities | He joined 14A in 2018. Phone: (313) 224-5173. After hearing testimony and seeing the evidence, retired Ingham County judge, Peter Houk, ruled Simpson did act improperly throughout the intern's brush with the law. He was sentenced to two years of probation, 50 hours of community service and $1,500 in fines. He let everybody down.". Municipal Courts, Budget and finances | In a coincidental twist, in his answer to the complaint and in his testimony, Simpson said the frequency of the text messages was due to Vargas being tasked with going through the 85,000 texts in the Nassif case. Healthcare | Washtenaw County's 22nd District Court was one of the few courts that were discovered to have a need for more judges. Ballot measure laws | Unfortunately, Washtenaw County judges are quick to presume the reliability of a probation officer’s allegation and blindly trust their probation violation claims. Without Easthope immediately resigning, Burke and Hines are tasked with his dockets until the end of the year. It's been a tough year for the judiciary in Washtenaw County, where judges have stayed out of trouble as far back as most folks can remember. Washtenaw County judges also have wide volition in determining the length of a sentence and choosing whether to accept a plea agreement or to sentence a person to probation, jail or prison. Ballot access for parties | Supreme Court | Simpson has yet to learn his fate. In 2017, a total of 702 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Washtenaw County. Environment | The 14th District Court, where Simpson and Tabbey preside, covers the rest of Washtenaw County, with courthouses in Saline, Ypsilanti Township and Chelsea, as well as the main courthouse in Pittsfield Township. The JTC complaints against Tabbey and Simpson arose around the same time, though there is no evidence they are in any way related. Hon. Now it's up to the nine-member JTC to recommend what, if any, punishment should be recommended to the Michigan Supreme Court. Find all Washtenaw County crime stories here. m_gallery_json = "https://blog.mlive.com/photogallery/8002564/18549549.json"; Judicial Selection | Judge Patrick J. Conlin, Jr. was elected by the voters of Washtenaw County in 2014 and took the bench on January 2, 2015. m_gallery_title = "Washtenaw County judges in tangled web of trouble"; Charles Pope is a district court judge for the 14B Judicial District Court in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Easthope later messaged his friend, "You spend that 60k on coke and whores yet?". Washtenaw County - Judges: Kirk Tabbey, Anna Frushour, J. Cedric Simpson Content on the page may not reflect present circumstances; please email us if you have an update for this article. 2021 legislative session | Washtenaw County Probate Court, Michigan David Swartz (Chief judge) Darlene A. O'Brien Julia B. Owdziej She called Simpson, who showed up at the scene soon afterward. | You just pray the guy can get his life back together. COVID-19: Vaccine news and outbreak updates. Conlin has served since 1995 but is unable to seek re-election in 2020 due to the 70-year age limit for judges in Michigan. "We will bring in a visiting judge to handle any dockets they are unable to cover.". Trial Court: Hon. Washtenaw County Probate Court Judges. Local measures | He said he was drinking to numb his knee pain. Washtenaw County assistant prosecutor announces campaign for circuit court judge Posted Mar 11, 2020 Amy Reiser, assistant prosecuting attorney, is running for 22nd Circuit Court judge. JTC Executive Director Paul Fischer said he couldn't recall a Washtenaw County judge having either type of complaint filed since he began in 2001. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). SAROSI: We elect prosecutors at the county level, we elect judges at the county level, sheriffs at the county level. Two of the Washtenaw County judges' hardships are coincidentally linked. Campaign finance requirements, Who represents me? Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Appeals from the Eastern District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. (Facebook/Eli Savit) The next morning, Simpson helped Vargas get her car out of impoundment, driving her there and lending her money, according to his testimony. Nassif pleaded no contest to drug charges and one count of felonious assault in a deal that got the sex assault charge dismissed. "I feel sorry for everybody along the whole way. Judge Kirk Tabbey and Judge J. Cedric Simpson, of the 14th District Court, both found themselves in trouble with the Judicial Tenure Commission. The JTC's formal complaint against Simpson is the first for a Washtenaw County judge since the commission was formed in 1968 via an amendment to … Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. The Washtenaw County Bar Association’s New Lawyers Section along with Co-Hosts Criminal Law, Solo and Small Firm & Trial Practice Sections invite all WCBA members to attend!. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan has jurisdiction in Washtenaw County. Lillich testified that he sat on the case because the judge was involved. Nassif had a contract with the 15th District Court, which covers the city of Ann Arbor. Part of the reason the exam was so lengthy had to do with the 85,000 text messages culled from Nassif's cell phone, messages that would eventually bring down his friend, Judge Easthope, and figure into the judicial misconduct case against presiding Judge Simpson. Easthope's text messages came to light during a sexual assault case, over which Judge Simpson presided, against Easthope's friend Nassif. He said he had agreed to hold off on authorizing the charges until he spoke with whichever defense attorney Vargas retained. Court of Appeals | But in the course of a year, three district court judges have been accused of inappropriate behavior, including interfering with an intern's arrest, cavorting with a pot-smoking attorney and flashing a judge's badge during a 'super drunk' driving arrest. Exams, during which a judge determines if there's probable cause a crime was committed by the person charged, are usually waived. Simpson has since gotten his criminal dockets back, and Judge Richard Conlin is the current chief judge. Nassif's exam, on the other hand, took place at several court hearings in fall and winter 2013. This county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. 101 E. Huron St. Ann Arbor, MI 48107 (734) 222-3072. When the deputy asked for identification, Kirk Tabbey flashed his judge's card two times before finally producing his driver's license, according to the police report. State executives | What's on my ballot? Breakey, James Ritchison (1900-1969) served 1945-1969 (22nd Circuit, Washtenaw County) Wiest, Howard (1864-1945) served 1899-1921 (30th Circuit, Ingham County) Before 1858, justices of the Michigan Supreme Court also served as circuit court judges, including Morell, Wing, Felch, Douglass, and Graves on the list of justices above. Gov. State legislature | The idea of money bail is “nicely ingrained” within the prison justice system, she stated, and it may be onerous for longtime judges to … "Judges Burke and Hines are diligently working to prevent any backlog by covering their own dockets as well as Judge Easthope's," said 15th District Court Administrator Shryl Samborn in a statement. Magistrate Cameron covers our Chelsea traffic docket as Friday afternoon arraignments. Kirk Tabbey pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge and was given a 90-day suspension. More have been made, some unresolved. Simpson bound Nassif's case over to trial in the circuit court, but called the evidence weak. A video from the patrol car's dashboard camera shows the judge approaching the officer and asking if Vargas is all right. [1], If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. Immigration | The attorney, Victor Lillich, testified in April that he didn't immediately authorize the drunken driving charges against Vargas after Simpson contacted him. The alleged sexual assault occurred a few days into the woman's visit. Honorable Carol A. Kuhnke, Chief Judge Honorable Darlene A. O'Brien, Probate Judge. m_gallery_id = "18549549"; m_gallery_permalink = "http://photos.mlive.com/8002564/gallery/washtenaw_county_judges_in_tan/index.html"; In the days following the arrest, Simpson also contacted the Pittsfield Township attorney in charge of authorizing the drunken driving charges against his intern. Joseph F. Burke, Chief Judge Washtenaw County Probate Court Judges. Elections calendar | Easthope will continue to collect his $138,272 salary until he officially steps down Dec. 31, 2015, even though he is no longer allowed to hear cases. Judges in Washtenaw County want to send the right message about DUI cases, but also allow the client charged to learn from the incident, and make better choices going forward. Nassif had recently made partner at the firm, which had a longstanding contract with the 15th District Court to represent indigent defendants under the leadership of Brandt Funkhouser. The county was authorized by legislation in 1822, and was organized as a county in 1826. If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. Judge Richard Conlin has announced his early retirement from his position on the 14A District Court, which handles civil cases, traffic infractions and some criminal misdemeanors in Washtenaw County. Tabbey and his brother, Dr. Ross Tabbey, were arrested after pulling the boat out of the water and trying to drive away with the judge behind the wheel. A 27-year-old woman Nassif had met at a Chicago nightclub came to Ann Arbor to visit Nassif in July 2013 for the purposes of painting a mural at his apartment. He went into the living room and found the woman flat on her face, unconscious. 418 West Michigan Ave. Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Phone: 734-879-0556 … There have been a variety of changes over the years at in the 14th District Court prior to Simpson and Tabbey's brushes with the JTC. Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population. Rick Snyder will appoint an interim judge at the end of the year to serve until the November 2016 election. The messages eventually become part of the JTC's case against Simpson, who is accused of meddling with his intern's drunken-driving case. I made many new friends, and reconnected with countless others who have been part of my life and career. Washtenaw County is the ideal landscape for a proactive program to have a major impact on the direction of my client’s case. The woman reported the incident as a rape. From what I have seen and heard Justice is definitely not blind in Washtenaw County. Ballotpedia features 321,687 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. In Michigan, the judicial branch is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. The JTC's formal complaint against Simpson is the first for a Washtenaw County judge since the commission was formed in 1968 via an amendment to the Michigan Constitution, according to records on the JTC website. Mayors appoint police chiefs … But by June 2013, Funkhouser had retired and messages sent between Easthope and Nassif during the City Council meeting show Naif thanking the judge for helping him win not just the $240,000 contract, but a $203,000 amendment for back pay. Court of Claims | Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. The Washtenaw County Probate Court is staffed by an experienced and . Citizens for Racial Equity in Washtenaw CREW is a local community’s response to the silence that keeps us from meaningfully confronting racial inequality in the legal system. Darlene O’Brien, Hon. Visit Website The officer, Robert Cole, testified that he allowed Simpson at the scene because "he is a judge" and would usually make someone wait in a car. Around 4:30 a.m. Sept. 9, 2013, just a few months after Nassif's arrest, one of Simpson's interns, 26-year-old Crystal Vargas, smashed into a tow truck at Michigan Avenue and Platt Road in Pittsfield Township.Vargas was drunk at the time, police later determined. Successfully defending a probation violation at a hearing takes considerable skill, tenaciousness, and preparation. A year after Simpson showed up at the scene of his intern's arrest, on Sept. 17, 2014, Tabbey and his doctor brother were arrested after a day of partying on Torch Lake. Congressional delegation | Kirk Tabbey later told The Ann Arbor News that he was recovering from knee surgery at the time and he was in excruciating pain during the boat trip. A month later, Nassif was arrested and charged with sexual assault. He continues to get paid until the effective date of Dec. 31, though Chief Judge Elizabeth Pollard Hines declared that he won't be allowed to hear any cases. He grew up in Ann Arbor; he has a lot of friends, a large family. Financial regulation | Public pensions | Washtenaw County Chief Trial Court docket Choose Carol Kuhnke stated she’s “delighted” that Savit’s workplace is not going to search money bail. The woman said she passed out and woke up to Nassif having sex with her in his bedroom, according to her testimony. Ross Tabbey was found to be carrying an ounce of marijuana in a tube sock along with other drug paraphernalia. The texts reveal Easthope used marijuana at least once with Nassif. At the time, Tabbey wouldn't say it had anything to do with Simpson's performance and Simpson didn't respond to media inquiries asking how he felt about having his criminal docket taken from him. All rights reserved (About Us). Largest counties | Two years later, Tabbey took Simpson off all criminal cases, citing efficiency and scheduling. Public education | If there are not more than twice the amount of candidates than there are persons to be elected, the race will not appear on the primary election ballot, but only on the general election ballot. If there are more than twice the number of candidates than there are judgeships up for election, the race will appear on the primary election ballot. If there is testimony, exams are generally finished in a day. Campaign finance requirements | 14A3 District Court, City of Chelsea. He was elected to the court on November 4, 2008, for a six-year term commencing on January 1, 2009, and expiring on December 31, 2014. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The circuit courts in Macomb County, Oakland County, Kent County, Genesee County, Livingston County, Ottawa County and Muskegon County were also shown to have a need for more judges. Washtenaw County Trial Court 101 E Huron Street, PO Box 8645 Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 Phone: 734-222-3270 Contact Court Administrator Judge Quinlan Valvo is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Washtenaw County Bar Association, the Ypsilanti Bar Association, the Michigan District Judges Association, the American Bar Association, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and is a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Its next meeting is Aug. 31. "They were never meant to be public. A protracted preliminary examination followed. Honorable Julia Owdziej, Probate Judge. Voters will decide if they want to elect Nick Roumel or Tracy E. Van Den Bergh to a six-year term to the circuit court. Eli Savit is sworn in as the prosecutor of Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor), Michigan, on Jan. 2, 2021. But Easthope's text messages to Nassif became accessible to the public when they landed in Nassif's police investigation. While I fell short, it was an amazing journey. Ballot access for candidates | There have been 94 formal complaints resolved against judges starting in 1971, the records show. Copyright © 2020 Washtenaw County Democratic Committee | Paid for by the Washtenaw County Democratic Committee | Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. John Counts covers crime and breaking news for The Ann Arbor News. "Nader Nassif, he obviously broke the trust that a lot of people had put in him and I'm sure that goes all the way from his parents on down," Hieftje told The News recently. The judge was also improperly talking with Nassif about his clients and cases, according to legal experts. Kristin Judge files for reelection as Washtenaw County commissioner in 7th District By Ryan J. Stanton Kristin Judge has filed papers with the Washtenaw County Clerk’s Office to have her name placed on the Aug. 3 primary ballot. While the officer was trying to call the drivers' licenses into dispatch, Kirk Tabbey shouted, "judge, I'm a judge" three different times, the deputy wrote in the report. Witnesses said Judge Tabbey kept falling and didn't seem to understand what was going on. During the disruption of regular Court operations due to COVID-19, please email frances.yturri@3rdcc.org to reach staff if unable to reach staff by phone.. Staff: © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Subscribe now. Circuit Court | Police placed Nassif under arrest and found marijuana, cocaine and Ecstasy when they searched his apartment. 22nd Circuit Court, 15th District Court and 14th District Court Honorable Archie C. Brown Honorable Carol Kuhnke … The document was heavily redacted, but the texts not blotted out by the Ann Arbor City Attorney's Office revealed a jocular, jokey relationship between Easthope and Nassif, who frequently appeared in the judge's courtroom. But the story begins two years ago when a woman Nassif met at a Chicago nightclub came to Ann Arbor to paint a mural. Van den Bergh: Consistent with the Michigan Supreme Court initiative to develop family law expertise on the bench, the new Washtenaw County Circuit Court judge will handle a domestic docket. The winner will hear civil and criminal cases for the Washtenaw County Trial Court. Washtenaw County (/ ˈ w ɒ ʃ t ɪ n ɔː /) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan.As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Who are the judges in Washtenaw County? The News filed a FOIA request with the Ann Arbor Police Department in June and a month later received a nearly 400-page document with messages dating from 2011 up to Nassif's arrest in 2013. | Washtenaw County judges in tangled web of trouble. Election governance | "U owe me," said one message from Easthope to Nassif. Easthope also went to bat for Nassif's law firm, Model Cities Legal Services, in June 2013 before Ann Arbor City Council. The brothers were attempting to take their boat out of the water at a dock in Antrim County's Helena Township at the time. State constitution, Courts in Michigan | m_gallery = "washtenaw_county_judges_in_tan"; According to Nassif, he was in his bedroom at his apartment in the 200 block of South Fourth Avenue around 2 p.m. July 31 when he heard a crash. Kirk Tabbey blew a .19 percent blood alcohol concentration, which put him in the high BAC, or 'super drunk' range. I apologize from the bottom of my heart to those involved, the entire community and my family for betraying the trust you put in me to uphold the dignity of this office.". David is WCGOP Chair, Debbie is a member of our EC and both are members of D7 district committee. m_gallery_blog_id = "8002564"; The commission did not take up the matter at their meeting on July 20. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. 100 largest cities in America by population, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, Michigan Fifteenth Judicial District Court, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2021, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2020, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2019, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2018, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2017, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2016, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Washtenaw_County,_Michigan_(Judicial)&oldid=7674745, Tracking election
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