Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan

Court and Community News and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion updates

from the Third Judicial Circuit

May 2025

Chief Judge Letter -
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Updates
Take Your Child to Work Day
Support for Veterans, Guards & Reservists
Employee Recognition
FOC New Hires
Annual Report Cover Art Contest Winner
All About DMCU
Michigan Judicial Training Opportunities for Employees
Tech Tips - CourtWeb
DEI Calendar

(left to right) Our presiding judges, including the Hon. Sheila Ann Gibson (Civil and Interim for Family Division - Juvenile), Hon. Donald J. Knapp, Jr. (Criminal), Hon. Patricia Perez Fresard (Chief Judge), Hon. Leslie Kim Smith (Chief Judge Pro Tem), Hon. Helal A. Farhat (Family Division - Domestic)

Celebrating a year of accomplishments at

Third Circuit Court

I was proud to have the opportunity to talk about all the accomplishments we’ve achieved at the Third Circuit Court in 2024 and the first few months of 2025 during my State of the Court Address on May 7.

I've referenced many of those accomplishments in monthly issues of this newsletter and through other court-wide communications. One of the most important points I mentioned at the address is that we aim to have an “open court” that provides access to justice for all. We can get there by collaborating with our stakeholders, from Wayne County, the city of Detroit and other departments to our employees, the legal community and Wayne County residents.

I’m purposely “borrowing” the collaboration theme from Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, who talked about “collaboration being the new currency” among public and private entities during his State of the County address last month. Given the support provided by Mr. Evans, his executive team and the Wayne County Commission, I couldn’t agree more. We’re better as a court when we work with other organizations and parties who have the same goals in the effort to achieve something greater together.

This idea of stakeholder collaboration is one that our court will be promoting throughout the rest of this year. We’ll also continue to engage in community outreach, and find ways to further improve operational efficiencies with the use of advanced courtroom technology.

Thank you to members of our Bench, our referees and employees for helping to make this past year one of great achievement.

Once again, feel free to email me at chiefjudge@3rdcc.org with questions. Every communication will be read and considered.

Sincerely,

Judge Patricia Perez Fresard

Celebrating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in May

The Third Circuit Court Diversity Equity, and Inclusion Team’s Mission is: "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, Equity, and 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.

Jewish American Heritage Month in May celebrates and recognizes the contributions of Jewish Americans to American culture, history, and society. It was established in 2006 after a resolution passed by Congress urging the President to proclaim a month recognizing Jewish American heritage.

Jewish American Heritage Month highlights the contributions of Jewish Americans to various fields, including government, military, science, arts, and culture. It also celebrates the resilience, aspiration, imagination, and achievements of Jewish Americans throughout their history in the U.S. Recognition of this month is celebrated through a variety of events, including community gatherings, museum exhibits, and educational programs.

To find out more about specific events and activities in Detroit during Jewish American Heritage Month, review the Jewish Detroit Community Calendar for upcoming events. Or, explore resources from organizations like the American Jewish Committee or Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington for ideas on how to celebrate.

May 2025 is National Family Wellness Month, a period dedicated to promoting the well-being of entire families through activities and lifestyle changes. It encourages families to improve communication and foster a healthy lifestyle, focusing on physical, mental, and emotional health. Family wellness can lead to improved overall health, reduced stress, and stronger family bonds.

Families are encouraged to engage in various activities that promote wellness, such as:

Physical activity: Encouraging physical fitness and sports participation.
Mental health awareness: Recognizing the importance of mental health and well-being.
Healthy habits: Promoting positive lifestyle choices like balanced nutrition and adequate sleep.
Communication and connection: Building strong relationships and open communication within the family.

Celebrating Take Your Child to Work Day

Judge Helal Farhat (back) with many of the guests from the court's Take Your Child to Work Day on April 24 at Friend of the Court.

Approximately 20 employees brought one or more of their kids to work to get a first-hand experience of what it is like to work at Third Circuit Court, with staff from most divisions participating.

Children were given an overview of what Third Circuit Court does and specifics on what each division handles. They enjoyed games during lunch and participated in a mock trial during the afternoon. The kids were able to meet judges and administrators to see what daily life is like at Third Circuit Court. Thank you to all team members who volunteered to support this day.

The Court shows its support of Veteran, Guard and Reserve employees

Third Circuit Court signed a Statement of Support last month with the non-profit organization, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), that is reflective of our advocation for employee participation in the military.

Director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) Brian Love also attended the event. The MVAA is a state government agency that is housed within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

The U.S. Department of Defense established ESGR in 1972 with a charter for fostering a culture of employer support for Guard and Reserve members. ESGR operates through a network of more than 2,300 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states. All ESGR team members are volunteers.

The organization is focused on three areas; employer outreach, ombudsmen – which includes providing resources and mediation for employers and service members and military outreach. That outreach with service members is designed to ensure that they know their rights and responsibilities under the law.

With the court’s documented support of ESGR, it is committed to maintaining open communications with any employees who serve in the Guard or Reserve. This support is also a sign of the court’s commitment to protecting its employees who are active military members from discrimination and retaliation, while remaining flexible with reemployment options following military service.

“We appreciate the service to our country provided by all employees and stakeholders of the court who are active or retired members of the military, including the Guard and Reserve,” said Chief Judge Patricia Perez Fresard. “We value the leadership qualities, work ethics and personal integrity shown by our employees with military experience.”

Learn more about ESGR, including ways to volunteer for the organization, at www.ESGR.mil.

Collection Unit team member Felicia Smith, Jim Lehman (Co-CEO, Coalition of American Court Collectors), Collections Unit Coordinator Claudia Wilson, Don McKinley (Co-CEO, Coalition of American Court Collectors), and Collections Unit team members Karen Coley and Brittany Settles celebrate with Claudia after receiving her award.

Claudia Wilson is nominated for an award in recognition of her excellence in streamlining court payments

Claudia Wilson, Collections Unit Coordinator for the court, received the 2025 Clarence Russ Duncan Medal of Honor, managed by the Coalition of American Court Collectors. This award recognizes individuals who embody the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct in their personal and professional lives.

Claudia was nominated by the court for this award largely on her work on a project to streamline payment agreements for the court's Criminal Division This process will allow a defendant to link multiple cases into one agreement, which allows payments to be directed to pay off cases in a specific order. It will alleviate the issue of entering a payment agreement on each case.

Claudia began testing the project with members of our Criminal Bench where they send the defendants directly to the collections department after sentencing. The result has been an increased the court’s payment agreements and higher revenue over the initial 4-month period.

Claudia also instituted a protocol regarding State of Michigan tax garnishments. The collections department previously was restricted to 10,000 files, but Claudia’s efforts will increase that to 12,000 files before the end of the year.

Claudia expanded our services by opening an additional Child Support Payment Window, making it easier for people to pay their child support and further increasing our efficiency. Since the pandemic, like many organizations, our court has faced challenges with in-person services. Under Claudia’s leadership, the Collections Department has not only survived but thrived. Her guidance has been instrumental in improving team morale and reigniting departmental energy.

Congratulations Claudia on an award well deserved!

We're continuing to build our expertise in FOC

The Friend of the Court and Family Assessment Services departments welcomed 10 new team members last month with the help of recruiters in Human Resources. These staff members fill positions that are much needed in all departments.

Adil Khan joins the Court with a strong background in technology, communication and administrative support. He is passionate about public service and committed to upholding the integrity of the judicial process through clear communication, attention to detail, and a collaborative work ethic.

Jennifer Carswell obtained her Associate’s Degree from Wayne County Community College District, and she is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix. She enjoys family time and singing.

Rosalind Smith joins Third Circuit Court. after 30 years with working for Unique Fabricating. She has experience working for Sinai Grace and Henry Ford hospitals and hopes that the Court will be her new home for years to come.

Francheska Williams is a recent Ferris State graduate and is looking forward to working with everyone in the Document Management Department at the Friend of the Court (FOC).

With twin boys at home, Danyale Williams, is excited to learn new things while working in the Order Entry Department at FOC.

Ashley Rivers’ twenty plus years of customer service experience will serve her well in the Information Services Department at FOC.

With a Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and undergrad degree from Wayne State University, LaTraceia Hunt will be an asset to Family Assessment Services. She has experience working with Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) as a Crisis Clinician and enjoys helping others especially in mental health/SUD.

Dyamone Smith is a proud mom of four girls and brings over 10 years of customer service experience to the table. She’s passionate about helping people and creating positive experiences, and is excited to start this new journey with the FOC.

Ieisha Moore also joins the court with over 20 years of customers service experience serving customers in person and virtually. She is also a mom to two beautiful baby boys Dorian Jr. and Darian.

Diversified Member Credit Union details

Did you know that employees have access to a credit union branch inside of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building?

That’s the location of Diversified Members Credit Union, which also has branches on East Jefferson in Detroit, Clawson and Novi. Diversified Members Credit Union in CAYMC is open five days a week on the first floor near the employee entrance. The credit union offers auto, home equity, person, student and other loans along with all types of checking and savings accounts.

Yet Diversified Members Credit Union offers even more from free financial coaching and education to debt management support. Members cab conduct all their personal or banking needs online as needed. Plus, members get free access to identity protection and a range of exclusive member offers, and the chance to earn an extra $10 for using their debit card monthly.

Credit unions are designated as a non-profit, which means its revenues are invested back into the organization to help support other member needs. Learn more by stopping in any Diversified Members Credit Union location, including in CAYMC where you can ask for Manager Lisa Rios. Or, call the CAYMC branch at 313-568-5000 or visit www.dmcu.com.

Training opportunity for employees through the Michigan Judicial Institute

The Michigan Judicial Institute offers certification training for court employees through the SCAO Learning Center (courtseducation.mi.gov). This important training equips both new and current court clerks and other front-line support staff with knowledge and skills needed to effectively serve the public, uphold ethical standards, and understand court processes with confidence.

Program overview:

Court Support Staff Certification Training consists of four modules:

The Purposes and Responsibilities of Courts
Professionalism and Ethics
Customer Service
Statutes, Court Rules, and Records

Enrollment directions:

To register, send an e-mail to courtseducation@courts.mi.gov with the following information:

Full Name
E-mail Address
Position

This training will take approximately one hour to complete. Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the four modules, demonstrating their commitment to professional excellence.

Tech Tips

Working with CourtWeb

We have a court User Directory on the homepage of CourtWeb where you can update your profile and find a wealth of other resources.

To update your information, simply select the Welcome displayed at the top, right corner of the screen. Then select the Edit My Info button to update the following fields:

Mobile – Optional

Division – Choose from the drop-down list available (e.g., Civil, Criminal, FOC, etc.)

Office – Enter your office number, suite number, courtroom number, etc. to help someone find you in your building

Phone – Enter your office phone number (e.g., 313-224-1234)

Department – Choose from the drop-down list available

Location – Choose from the drop-down list available

Click Save and you’re done!

Also, note that the phone number saved within CourtWeb will automatically update the Global Address List within Outlook within a day or two in case someone searches for you there as well.