What's in this Guide
District Court Judges
State Representative, 61 District
Judges of the 8th District Court (Non-incumbent)
Six-Year Term — Vote for 1
1. Why are you running for office? [75 word limit]
2. What are the responsibilities of the office you are seeking? How can voters know whether those responsibilities have been met? [100 word limit]
3. What are your top three priorities for the office you seek? What do you hope to accomplish? [150 word limit]
Jeffrey M. Gagie
Age 45. Self-employed attorney; emphasis on criminal defense, juvenile court abuse/neglect/delinquency. J.D., Cooley Law School; M.B.A. and B.B.A., WMU; Loy Norrix H.S. Before law school: industrial sales, financial services; nearly 14 yrs private practice—municipal law, divorce/custody, juvenile court, bankruptcy, and civil litigation; emphasis last ten yrs has been on criminal defense in Kalamazoo, Van Buren and Berrien counties; since early 2007 represented over 100 felony defendants in Kalamazoo County alone, more than the other three candidates combined.
1. Society must have an independent, honorable judiciary; citizens should be able to have confidence in courts. I’ve 14 years courtroom experience concentrating on the matters that make up the majority of cases before a District Court judge. I’ve an open mind and the courage to apply the law consistently to all, even when it may not be the easy or popular decision. I have the experience and character to help instill confidence in this court.
2. District Courts are responsible for misdemeanor cases, early stages of felony cases, civil litigation involving $25,000 or less, landlord/tenant disputes, traffic offenses and small claims matters. According to the Michigan Supreme Court, in 2007 over 80% of new filings in District Courts were felony, misdemeanor, and civil infraction cases; of non-traffic, non-civil filings, over 80% were felony and misdemeanor cases. The Michigan Supreme Court oversees all Michigan courts. Voters may review the annual report regarding courts’ performance. Although an objective measure of “justice” maybe difficult to obtain, voters may reach their own conclusions by observing proceedings in any judge’s court.
3. My top priority would be to conduct myself in such a way that when people leave my court they can feel that I was well prepared, respectful and fair. Second, I would like for all who are parties to a court case to feel they were treated fairly and that the law was applied to them the same as it is to everyone else. On those occasions when an error is made, I would like for people to be confident that it was an innocent human error, not one because of where they live, how much education or money they have, or the color of their skin. Third, I would like for the public at large to have confidence that the courts in Kalamazoo County dispense justice fairly, promptly and consistently. And, that while still protecting the rights of everyone, the courts run as cost effectively as is possible.
Bill Murphy
Age 54. Attorney. B.S. with honors, criminal justice, WMU, 1975; J.D. with honors, Detroit College of Law, 1980. Twenty-eight yrs, litigation attorney trying numerous civil and criminal matters in District and Circuit courts. Case evaluator and mediator in Kalamazoo and surrounding counties. Over the years I have devoted hundreds of hours to various volunteer service projects; donated free legal services to Migrant Ministry; coached basketball for the YMCA and other youth basketball programs. www.murphyfordistrictjudge.com
1. I have studied many judges, both good and bad, and the best judges are those who like people, and who have a broad range of professional and personal experience. I do enjoy people, I raised my family in the community, and I have spent my entire career helping people to solve their legal problems. I would now like to use that experience to be one of the good judges that I so admire.
2. The District Court is a trial court which handled over 17,000 criminal cases in 2007 and also handles civil trials. The judge of this court should therefore have extensive experience trying cases just as you would want the chief of surgery at a hospital to have extensive experience in performing surgery. It’s difficult for the public to evaluate how well a judge has done his/her job. That is why it is important to elect judges who have extensive experience in that court and have earned the respect of the judges and lawyers who appear in the court.
3. (a) I want to expand the Specialty Courts (drug, sobriety, domestic violence), and add a mental health court under the same guidelines so that behaviors that lead to recidivism can be changed, and not just punished. I would also like to periodically convene the District Court in our high schools to show young people first hand the consequences of their behavior. (b) The District Court is a people’s court. Therefore, we need to ensure that all persons who come to the Court are treated with dignity and respect, and in turn demand that those persons respect the Court and the authority it represents. (c) Like all arms of government, the District Court must constantly strive to operate efficiently to best utilize valuable public resources.
Sondra G. Nowak
Age 55. Kalamazoo County 9th Circuit Court: research and analyze Michigan statutes and case law in preparing civil and criminal judicial opinions and orders. B.F.A., San Francisco Art Institute; Registered Dental Hygiene, KVCC; J.D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Worked with Kalamazoo County community populations in human service programs, been a public servant for over 24 yrs, have dedicated advocacy skills, courtroom experience, and knowledge of court processes and procedures. www.sgnowak.com; email—sgnowak@gmail.com.
1. My goal in attending law school was to serve the public. I have acquired knowledge and experience in the court system and believe my skills and passion for the community will be an asset to many 8th District Court services. As a committed advocate for the Kalamazoo County community, I would consider it a privilege to be in a position to strengthen and enhance our justice system with programs that assist victims, families, and offenders.
2. The 8th District Court adjudicates misdemeanor charges, with a maximum penalty of 1 year in jail. Preliminary examinations are heard in felony matters. Civil lawsuits are handled, with a maximum claim of up to $25,000. Traffic and non-traffic civil infraction offenses are handled, and civil marriages are performed. These responsibilities are met when criminal offenders receive sanctions for committing crimes; felony cases are bound up to Circuit Court based on substantial evidence; civil lawsuits are settled or trials are completed; and civil infraction offenses are sanctioned.
3. (a) Mental Health Treatment Court: based on a diversion program, similar to the Drug Treatment Court in 9th Circuit Court, treatment services would be offered to non-violent offenders who have been diagnosed with a mental health issue. As an alternative to jail and prison, taxpayer dollars would be saved and treatment options would be promoted. (b) "Man-Up" Program: offering support and guidance to young adult offenders in order to decrease violence on the streets of our community. Collaboration with The Turn 2 Foundation, which also supports services in the juvenile justice system. (c) Fugitive Safe Surrender: coordinated with the U.S. Marshal, which offers non-violent felony and misdemeanor fugitives, with outstanding bench warrants, an opportunity to turn themselves in, in exchange for leniency for their sanctions. This would assist in getting fugitive criminals off the streets of our community, and offer them a chance to become productive members of society.
Julie K. Phillips
Age 52. Business owner and attorney, Julie K. Phillips P.C. B.B.A., finance and commercial law, WMU, 1984; J.D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, 1991. Village of Paw Paw, 1974–85: Assistant to Acting Village Manager, Purchasing Agent, Safety Director, Industrial Pretreatment Manager, Assistant Manager of Utilities. Law clerk, Benefiel, Farrer & Glista. Attorney since 1992: Phillips Law Office, Inc.; Wright, Phillips & Sandmeyer, Inc., Julie K. Phillips, P.C.; real estate law, corporate law, estate planning. www.Phillipsfordistictcourt.com
1. Being an attorney was my second career. My first career was municipal government, which is a benefit because District Court hears disputes from local governments. Practicing law in District Court for over 16 years, being encouraged by other elected officials and leaders in our community to run for office, and the fact that I would like to have a positive impact on more people’s lives are the reasons that I choose to run for District Court judge.
2. District Court hears the following types of cases: (a) Misdemeanors; (b) Felony preliminary exams to determine if there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed and that the defendant committed the crime—to send to Circuit Court; (c) Drunk driving, first and second offenses; (d) Domestic violence, misdemeanor cases; (e) All civil cases with damages less than $25,000 (landlord/tenant matters, land contract forfeitures, claim & delivery matters). The District Court judge needs to follow the law and apply it to facts of each case. Voters will know by reading results in the newspaper and getting involved with their community whether the responsibilities have been met.
3. The Top 3 Priorities that I have for District Court are: (a) To help victims from feeling victimized in our system and increase public safety; (b) To reduce or eliminate the number of frivolous cases and motions; (c) To reduce the inconvenience to District Court witnesses, while efficiently utilizing not only court time, but police agency resources and prosecutor’s preparation time.