Court and Community News and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion updates

from the Third Judicial Circuit



June 2025
  1. Chief Judge Letter
  2. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Updates
  3. Celebrating STAND Graduates
  4. Celebrating Mental Health Court Graduates
  5. Referees Association of Michigan Participation
  6. Our Law Partnership with Wayne State University
  7. Employee Recognition
  8. Tech Tips - HowTo Guides
  9. DEI Calendar

Detroit is a popular host for all sorts of activities and events

It’s an exciting time to live and work in Detroit, including for those of us at Third Circuit Court.


The Detroit Grand Prix was just held downtown with part of the track adjacent to one of our court locations at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC). Anyone working downtown in the last few weeks is certainly aware of the extra noise, parking and travel challenges, but events like the Grand Prix bring tourist dollars and notoriety to the city.


Last year Detroit set records with attendees when hosting the NFL Draft for the first time. The Detroit Auto Show each January is a major event as well and we have other major sporting events scheduled for the future, including the NCAA men’s basketball tournament regional, with the regional winner earning a trip to the Final Four.


Detroit also hosted the Michigan Judicial Institute’s MSC Conference May 8-9, and our court welcomed conference attendees who wanted to see the Criminal Justice Center, home of our Criminal Division, for the first time.


Detroit is a place where things are happening, from seemingly weekly huge musical concerts and regular festivals to subtle outings and well-known restaurants that draw visitors from far and wide. It’s truly a great time to work in the city, where in between our meetings and daily responsibilities, we get to enjoy all that Detroit has to offer.


I know these events occasionally can require our judges, referees and court employees to plan for extra commute time, so I want to thank you in advance for managing these short-term challenges. Some of us were displaced for work parking because of the Grand Prix, but we know it’s for a good cause. I hope all of you get a chance to enjoy some of these events in Detroit as the summer continues. 

 

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 June

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.

Pride Month, celebrated in June, commemorates the Stonewall Riots in New York City, which began on June 28, 1969. The first Pride marches were held in June 1970, one year after the riots, to commemorate the event and advocate for equal rights. 


Pride Month is a celebration and recognition of the LGBTQ+ community's history, contributions, and ongoing fight for equality. It's a time to commemorate the progress made while acknowledging that work remains to be done. 



In Detroit, Motor City Pride, the city's largest LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, is scheduled for June 7-8, 2025, at Hart Plaza. The event includes a parade, vendor booths, a festival with live entertainment, and a kids’ area. 

National Immigrant Heritage Month acknowledges the diverse and significant contributions of immigrants to American society, promoting understanding and appreciation for the immigrant experience. The month-long observance encourages communities to recognize the rich tapestry of cultures and stories immigrants bring, fostering a more inclusive and diverse society. 


It gives people across the United States an opportunity to annually explore their own heritage and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of America.


From the earliest days of our country to the present, immigrants have played an integral role in building our nation and advancing our democratic values and ideals. They have contributed talents, energy, and passion to every facet of American society, including diplomacy.


According to the American Immigration Council, 14.3 percent of the nation's residents are foreign-born, almost half of whom are naturalized citizens. Immigrants support the U.S. economy in many ways, accounting for 23.6 percent of entrepreneurs, 23.6 percent of STEM workers, and 15.9 percent of nurses.

Celebrating the accomplishments of our STAND program graduates!

We proudly recognized National Treatment Court Month in May by acknowledging the work of recovery happening in our youth and their families. The Supervised Treatment for Alcohol and Narcotic Dependency (STAND) program held a graduation at the Durfee Innovation Society Auditorium on May 19. At that time, we celebrated the graduation of six exceptional youth from the STAND program.

The program graciously welcomed Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden (right) as keynote speaker. Ceremony attendees included Chief Judge Patricia Perez Fresard, Executive Court Administrator Frank Hardester, Deputy Court Administrator ToieLynn Smith, Chief Assistant of Administrative Operations Edna Clark, Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell, Honorable Karen Y. Braxton, Honorable Judy Hartsfield, Honorable Adrienne G. Scruggs, Honorable Todd Briggs, Honorable Mariam Bazzi, Chief Referee James Catchings, Honorable Brandi Taylor, Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network CEO James White, Wayne County Liaison Viera Brownlee; along with the STAND program team, youth and their families.

Over the course of the program, STAND graduates engaged in a structured specialty court program designed to provide an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system. The program’s use of supervision and treatment helped provide the support needed for youth to work on their sobriety, school performance, positive family engagement and life skills into the next phase of their lives.

We are proud of our graduates’ accomplishments and excited to see where their journey takes them next! For additional program information or referrals contact the STAND Program at 313-833-1965.

Among those representing Third Circuit Court at the STAND graduation (l to r): Edna Clark, Sonya Ristic, Frank Hardester, Kimberly Cavanaugh, Christopher Whittington, the Hon. Karen Y. Braxton, the Hon. Todd Bridges, Referee Brandi Taylor, Chief Referee James Catchings, ToieLynn Smith, Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell, Referee LaChelle Logan, Darlynn Covington and the Hon. Adrienne Scruggs.

Mental Health Court celebrates four graduates

The court’s Mental Health Court Program celebrated the graduation of four participants who successfully completed 18-24 months of intensive judicial supervision and case management with family members and friends last week. There have been 54 successful completions in the program since January 2019.

 

Former Third Judicial Circuit and current Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Mariam Saad Bazzi (right) presided over the ceremony. This was Judge Bazzi’s final graduating class and last appearance before the participants. Since serving in this role beginning in 2019, Judge Bazzi had a significantly profound impact on the program and its participants.


In parting, Judge Bazzi shared these words.” Presiding over the Mental Health Court docket has been one of the highlights of my career as a Circuit Court judge. The dedication of the staff and all the community partners to the success of each individual participant has been so amazing to see. I recognize the amount of time, dedication and persistence it takes on behalf of the participants themselves to successfully complete this program. I have been honored to have been part of helping on their journey to mental and physical health and am so proud of all their accomplishments."

 

Judge Chandra Baker-Robinson has since been assigned the Mental Health Court docket. She previously was a Drug Court Supervising Judge. She conducted her first team meeting and status review in late May.


Congratulations to our four graduates from this year's Mental Health Court Program. For additional program information or referrals contact the Juvenile Mental health Court at 313-833-0354.

Court referees attend the annual conference for Referees Association of Michigan

Third Circuit Court referees (l to r): Leslie Graves, Sean Kerman, Christina McPhail-Stockdale, Stacey Selleck, Eric Ratkowski, Brandi Taylor, Stephanie Witucki, Diane Biggar, Dawn Hoffman, Christine Rodriguez and Rosanne Hostnik.

In May 2025, eleven referees from the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County attended the Referees Association of Michigan (RAM) Annual Conference, held in Midland. This three-day event brought together juvenile and domestic relations referees from across the state for professional development, networking, and continuing judicial education.

 

The Wayne County delegation included both juvenile and domestic relations referees, among them RAM Board Member and Chief Domestic Relations Referee Stephanie Witucki. Their attendance underscored Wayne County's dedication to remaining at the forefront of developments in the legal field.

 

The conference offered a diverse range of sessions focused on enhancing the knowledge, skills, and well-being of judicial referees. Highlights included an Ethics Roundtable featuring a panel of referees and judges, as well as a session dedicated to wellness and work-life balance. Other sessions covered emerging trends in Michigan law, best practices in evidence handling, and juvenile justice reform.

 

RAM also took the opportunity to honor referees from Wayne County for their years of dedicated service and contributions to the judiciary. Their commitment to excellence continues to be a model for others across the state.

 

Events like the RAM Annual Conference are vital to supporting and advancing the professional development of referees throughout Michigan. By staying informed on evolving legal standards and sharing best practices, Wayne County referees ensure they are well-equipped to serve the legal system effectively and ethically. Their participation in the 2025 conference reaffirms the county's strong commitment to judicial excellence and continuous improvement.

Wayne State University Law Partnership Expands Access and Opportunity

Third Circuit Court has proudly partnered with Wayne State University since last fall to launch an innovative internship program that brings 10–15 undergraduate students into our Self-Help Center (SHC) each semester.

 

These students, many of whom are studying criminal justice, pre-law, and related disciplines, play a vital role in supporting the SHC’s mission while gaining valuable, hands-on experience in the justice system. The collaboration between the SHC and Wayne State is supported by the Court’s Volunteer Coordinator, Paige Ampey, whose position is funded through a self-help center grant from SCAO.

 

While the students do not provide legal advice, their work is instrumental in helping visitors navigate court processes. By conducting intake interviews and supporting our court navigators, they develop essential skills in client communication, courtroom procedures, and service-oriented problem-solving.

 

Students are trained and supervised by SHC Navigators Lynn Reeves, Sonya Powers, and Michelle Schefsky. This experiential learning opportunity not only prepares the students for future legal careers but also deepens their understanding of the real-world challenges that individuals face in accessing justice.

 

This partnership exemplifies our court’s commitment to both community engagement and the professional development of future leaders in the legal field. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and growing the impact it has on students and the public alike. Thank you to our friends at Wayne State University for making this program possible! Call 313-967-3850 for any questions.

Edna Clark receives prestigious community award

Third Circuit Court Chief Assistant of Administrative Operations Edna Clark was nominated for the Macomb Foundation’s 2025 ATHENA Award. This prestigious honor is awarded annually to an individual who actively supports and empowers women in achieving their full leadership potential, exemplifies excellence and initiative, and contributes meaningfully to the community.


The Macomb Foundation hosts this program in Macomb County to recognize outstanding community leaders and while only one nominee will receive the ATHENA Award, all nominees will be celebrated for their outstanding community achievements. Edna was also awarded a certificate of Congressional Recognition for my Service to the Community as part of this nomination. Congratulations Edna!

Tech Tips


Working with CourtWeb and its How To (Guides)




Did you know that the How To (Guides) under Essential Links on Courtweb’s main page offers helpful instructions that can provide you with assistance navigating functions you can use.

 

The Xerox copier provides you with the ability scan a document to your email or copy an ID card and have print out on one page?


The new VoIP phone systems has an overview of functions on the phone and how to access and setup your Voicemail.


We have a link for Microsoft office apps, that show you some of the tip you might want to know about to help you with what you might be struggling with. Please contact the Help Desk with any questions.

June 2025


DEI Calendar




Shavuot – June 1-3

Often referred to as the "Festival of Weeks", this Jewish holiday commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.


Hajj – June 4-9

Marks an annual pilgrimage for Muslims to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and one ritual of Hajj includes walking counterclockwise seven times around the Kaaba.


Juneteenth - June 19

Commemorates the emancipation of slavery in the United States and celebrates African American culture. On June 19, 1865 Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform everyone that the Civil Wat was over and slavery was abolished.