Page 3 - The Wayne Dispatch

“Have Gavel, Will Travel” justice comes to town

By Carolyn Marnon
“Have Gavel, Will Travel” found
Michigan Supreme Court Justice
Elizabeth T. Clement travelling from
her home in East Lansing to the 29th
District Court in Wayne August 14
and 15 to interact with people at the
lower court level.
The new initiative “is focused on
increasing engagement with the com-
munity so that public trust in our
courts is supported by increased
awareness and understanding of
local issues and concerns,” reads the
Michigan Supreme Court Resolution
in 29th District Court Judge Laura
Mack’s office. The Wayne court is
one of the first courts in the state to
participate in the program amongst
the 242 trial courts in Michigan. Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth T. Clement with 29th District Court Judge Laura Mack and her 29th District Court
This special program was started be- staff.
cause justices at the Supreme Court again sat with Judge Mack. She was called it to determine if there was trict court in action. I believe this is
level only interact with attorneys on able to handle several cases and anything unique or more appropri- the first time Michigan Supreme
cases, not the people involved. Two make decisions on those cases. They ate for her to handle. For example, Court Justices have done this. I feel
of Justice Clement’s colleagues were involved arraignments, pleas, and there were some cases that involved honored that our court, in our city,
also disbursed to other courts sentencing where there was an agree- city ordinances that I was unfamiliar was chosen, and I think the people
across the state at this time to partic- ment with the prosecutor. with or cases where there has been that came to court on those days felt
ipate in the travelling gavel program. “I was incredibly impressed with a longer history. Judge Mack knew honored as well. Some of the people
“The three Justices have never the work that Judge Mack and her the background and details of those, thanked Justice Clement.”
served as trial court judges, so the team are doing with the Mental and it made more sense for her to “Our Justices care about the trial
experience will be invaluable to un- Health Court,” she wrote in her handle that case. I heard and de- court judges. They want to truly un-
derstand the day-to-day concerns email. “I have had the opportunity to cided cases that involved plea deals derstand what we do, our challenges
judges see in their courtrooms, and visit many of our mental health or were dismissals and was able to and triumphs, and how they can
to appreciate the critical work that is courts around the state and under- sit on those cases myself. After hav- help us,” continues Judge Mack.
being done in courtrooms from stand the difficulty working with par- ing spent two full days with Judge “More importantly, the Justices care
Wayne County to Kent County to Mar- ticipants. It requires passion and Mack, I gained a better appreciation about the people who come to court
quette. ‘We are so pleased that the dedication from the judge and the en- for the district court docket that she to resolve disputes or answer to
Justices are going to courts across tire treatment team, and it was very sees on a regular basis.” criminal charges. They want to en-
the state to spend time meeting peo- clear to me that the success of Judge Judge Mack was thrilled to be sure that courts are treating people
ple, learning firsthand about how de- Mack’s court is attributable to the part of the program. “Trial court as they deserve to be treated: with
cisions are made, and helping amazing team she has in place. Prob- judges look up to Supreme Court dignity and respect, and that their
families facing difficult life deci- lem-solving courts are not required Justices. They represent the highest cases are treated competently and
sions,’ said Chief Judge Burton,” in and the judges that choose to offer a rung on the justice ladder, and they carefully. This program reinforces
a Michigan Supreme Court press re- problem-solving court to the public sometimes are called upon to correct the notion that all the state courts in
lease. Judge Freddie G. Burton, Jr. take on a lot of additional work. It our legal mistakes. However, be- MIchigan represent ‘one court of jus-
is the Wayne County Chief Probate also provides an opportunity for the cause of their lofty position as the tice.’ Justice Clement’s visit ener-
Judge. judge and team to be more involved head of the judicial branch, there is gized and inspired me to do more in
Judge Mack sat down with Jus- in the cases. That is one of the main a perception that they are discon- my court to make our justice system
tice Clement at the end of the first differences I personally saw between nected from the day-to-day opera- better.”
day after they had sat next to each the first day and the second day tions of the court. When the The two women met while at a
other on the bench and heard cases when we handled city ordinance Supreme Court reviews a case that court leadership conference that was
through the Mental Health Court in cases. We were able to spend more has been appealed from a trial court held out of state several years ago
the morning and landlord tenant is- time with each individual during like the 29th District Court, the Jus- and became friends. Justice Clement
sues in the afternoon. They reviewed Mental Health Court compared to tices can only read a transcript of says she wanted to come to Wayne
the Thursday docket together which what was definitely a faster paced what was said at the trial. They don’t because she’s passionate about men-
involved Traffic Court. “Most mat- more routine docket the second day.” get to see the people testify; they tal health and is a liaison in the men-
ters,” said Judge Mack, “take about “My experience with Judge Mack don’t see their demeanor or their at- tal health community. According to
five minutes.” The two anti-govern- really educated me on the quick pace titude. You can get a completely dif- the Michigan Supreme Court web-
ment cases that were last on the and flow of cases and while I was ferent ‘feel’ for a case if you see the site, “She serves as the liaison to the
docket would probably take longer. comfortable and able to hear and de- trial in person versus reading the 188 Problem-Solving Courts in the
Justice Clement emailed after the cide certain cases, Judge Mack and transcript. So this was a chance for
Thursday court experience that she I conferred on each case before we a Justice to experience a typical dis- See Gavel, page 6
The Wayne Dispatch · September 2019 · 3