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Court and Community News and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion updates
from the Third Judicial Circuit
January 2026
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- Chief Judge Letter - Celebrating the Court's Strong Future
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Updates
- Celebrating MLK Day
- Judge Berry Leads Seminar on Class Action Litigation
- HR's December Meet and Greet a Success
- Welcoming New Referee Julie Hirsch
- Welcoming Kevin Gardner as Director of Special Projects and Court Security
- Specialty Court Services Hosts Relapse Prevention Forum
- Penobscot Praise
- Criminal Courthouse Kudos
- Update on the Access and Fairness Committee
- Tech Tips: Clearing Your Browser History
- DEI Calendar
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Celebrating the Court's Strong Future
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As I begin my first month as Chief Judge of the Third Circuit Court, I am humbled filled with optimism and gratitude for the opportunity to serve alongside such a dedicated workforce. This court’s strength has always rested with its employees, whose professionalism and commitment ensure that we meet our mission to serve the people of Wayne County with fairness, efficiency, and integrity.
I want to acknowledge the outstanding leadership of former Chief Judge Patricia Perez Fresard and former Chief Judge Pro Tem Leslie Kim Smith. Their steady guidance, especially through periods of significant challenge and change, has left the court well positioned for continued success. I am grateful for the foundation they have built and the example they have set.
Looking ahead, I am excited to work closely with Chief Judge Pro Tem Helal Farhat, our fellow judges, and court administration. We want to hear from you how we can strengthen collaboration, create better communication, support our employees, and advance the important work of this court.
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I’ve been blessed to serve on the Third Circuit Court Bench since 2003 and am regularly reminded of the significant impact this court and all of our judges and employees have on the residents and business owners of Wayne County. We handle an estimated 60,000 matters each year among our divisions, and it takes the roughly 600 judges, referees and employees to support our ability to provide access to justice for all.
I want to thank each of you for your hard work and dedication. I anticipate we all with have major wins and face significant challenges along the way. As we move forward, your efforts will be essential as we plan for a successful and productive 2026.
Judge Edward Ewell, Jr.
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Recognizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in January
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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.
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As we recognize the importance and celebrate the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. on MLK Day, here are six interesting facts about this national holiday.
It is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service
MLK Day is officially recognized as a “Day On, Not a Day Off,” encouraging Americans to volunteer and engage in community service in honor of Dr. King’s legacy.
It was not immediately observed by all states
Although the holiday became a federal observance in 1986, several states did not officially recognize it until the 1990s, and some initially used alternative names.
It is observed on the third Monday in January, not Dr. King’s birthday
Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929, but the holiday follows the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to provide a long weekend.
Stevie Wonder played a key role in raising public support
His 1980 song “Happy Birthday” helped popularize the movement to establish the holiday and brought widespread public attention to the cause.
It honors a Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at age 35, making him the youngest recipient at the time.
It is observed internationally, not just in the United States
While MLK Day is a U.S. federal holiday, Dr. King’s life and legacy are commemorated through events and observances in countries around the world.
Courtesy: AI searches using ChatGPT and Google Gemini, and The History Channel
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The Hon. Annette Berry Leads Seminar on Class Action Litigation
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Third Circuit Court Judge Annette Berry, who also serves on the Business Court, led an online presentation in December 2025 on “Class Action Litigation 101” for the National Business Institute.
Attending attorneys earned CLE credits for attending the presentation, which included a range of topics such as class certification, discovery challenges, and structure settlements that can withstand judicial scrutiny.
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HR Meet and Greet Draws a Full House
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Thank you to all employees who attended the HR Holiday Meet and Greet in mid-December. The HR team worked hard to provide everyone with great food, fun games, court giveaways and more outside of the 13th Floor Auditorium at at CAYMC.
The following employees won a prize:
Executive Parking for five consecutive week days
- Viva Threat, Budget & Finance, Administration
Painting with the Chief
- Nancy Hames, Docket Support Services, Administration
- Fran Yturri, General Counsel, Administration
- Charlene Dozier, Juvenile Intake, Family Division – Juvenile
Lunch with the ECA, Frank Hardester
- Kevin Martin, Budget& Finance, Administration
- Carmelita Williams, Ombudsman/Data Maintenance, Family Division - Domestic
- Deborah Nelson, Mental Health Court, Family Division - Juvenile
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2 tickets to 1 Lions regular season game in 2026
- Mike Gruich, ITSB, Administration
- Ashley Rivers, Information Services, Family Division – Domestic.
Thank you, Frank!
We appreciate all who attended and helped with this event.
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Welcoming New Referee Julie Hirsch
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The Hon. Alexis Glendening swears in Referee Julie Hirsch while the Hon. Kathleen M. McCarthy looks on
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Julie Hirsch was sworn in as the Friend of the Court’s newest Referee on Thursday, December 1 at an event hosted by the Hon. Kathleen M. McCarthy and the Hon. Alexis Glendening.
Referee Hirsch has served as a judicial attorney in both the family and civil divisions of the Third Circuit Court for Judge McCarthy and Judge Glendening. Prior to joining the Court in 2021, she worked in private practice, at Oakland County Circuit Court, and at the Michigan Court of Appeals.
In her free time, Referee Hirsch loves spending time with her family, playing pickleball, traveling, and cheering on the Michigan Wolverines.
Welcome Referee Hirsch!
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Welcoming Kevin Gardner, the Court's New Director of Special Projects & Court Security
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Kevin Gardner as joined as Director of Special Projects and Court Security, effective January 12. Kevin succeeds Jan Hiller, who retired on January 2, following dedicated service to the Court.
Kevin retired from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department as a Commander, concluding a distinguished 31-year career in law enforcement. His experience spans jail and court security operations, policing, investigations, emergency response, and dispatch. Notably, during his tenure as Commander, Kevin oversaw security operations for the Third Circuit Court and the Wayne County Jail systems.
Kevin is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University’s School of Police Staff and Command – Executive Leadership Program and has completed specialized training in Courthouse Security, Incident Command, and other disciplines critical to modern public safety leadership.
Welcome Kevin!
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Specialty Court Service Holiday Relapse Prevention Forum Is a Success
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The Criminal Division’s Specialty Court Services Department hosted its third Holiday Relapse Prevention Forum at the Salvation Army’s Southeast Michigan Adult Rehabilitation Center on December 5, 2025.
The forum had a panel of guests who either provided personal insight to their lived experiences or reflective motivation. The panel consisted of Greg Lindsey, SUD Treatment Services Administrator from the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN), Professor Blakley from New Light Recovery Center, Rick McGuffey, peer recovery coach from Face Addiction Now (FAN, formerly Families Against Narcotics) and Yvonne Barnett Greene, from Third Circuit Court.
The panel discussed triggers associated with the holidays and provided tools to address them.
There were resource tables available from Dearborn Veterans Center, the John D. Dingell Veterans Administration, Black Family Development, DWIHN, Detroit Recovery Project, and My Life Counseling.
The forum was open to all Specialty Court Services participants, both prior and current, in addition to the residents of the rehabilitation center. In all, there were close to 100 people in attendance.
One of the most powerful quotes from the forum came from Professor Blakely, who said: “If you want something you don’t have, you need to learn about what you don’t know.”
Thank you to our grant funders, the State Court Administrative Office and Byrne JAG and to Robert Idzior, Envoy—Administrator from the Salvation Army. Without their support and collaboration, events like this would not be possible.
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Access and Fairness Committee Update
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By Sharonda Simmons, Chief Strategy Officer
Over the past several months, the Third Judicial Circuit Court has continued its work to advance access, fairness, and equity across the Court. As part of this effort, we are in the process of formalizing the Access and Fairness Committee, whose mission is to advance justice through fairness, accessibility, and respect. The committee is committed to serving the public with integrity and accountability, ensuring that every person, whether staff, judicial officer, or court user, can engage with the Court equitably and with dignity.
The role of the Access and Fairness Committee is to help guide, coordinate, and monitor initiatives that promote fairness, accessibility, and inclusion across all divisions of the Court. The committee brings together staff and leadership, including judicial representation, across backgrounds and perspectives, to support this work in a thoughtful and practical way. The focus is on aligning policies, practices, and day to day experiences with the Court’s values and strategic priorities.
In recent months, the committee has been working on a draft Access and Fairness Policy and an accompanying Access and Fairness Plan, including identifying quarterly focus areas and practical opportunities such as staff training and professional development. This work will continue to evolve in the months ahead, with ongoing updates shared as the committee’s efforts move forward.
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Clearing Your Browser History
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If you are asked to clear or delete your Microsoft Edge browser history (aka, clear your cache), follow these simple steps:
1 - Select the three dots in the upper, right-hand corner of the Microsoft Edge browser.
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2 - Select the History option (alternately, you can just press Ctrl + H to get to the History pane):
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3 - Select the Delete option as seen below:
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4 - On the Delete browsing data window, select the options seen below and then select Clear now. If you need to clear more history than the last 24 hours, you can use the drop-down box to change the time range:
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5 - Now close your Microsoft Edge browser(s) and start it up again. That’s it!
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January 2026
DEI Calendar
Photo to the right courtesy of Outlier Media
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