NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2018 
June 2018 Newsletter Headlines
Employee Highlight of the Month
Congrats!

June - Employee Highlight of the Month

Andrea Walker - Domestic Relations Specialist
Family Domestic

Andrea Walker has been employed with the Court for five years in the Information Services Department
at the Friend of the Court. Court Leadership thanks her for choosing the Court as her employer and for
sharing a little more about herself in this month's Employee Highlight.

Q. What is an enjoyable part of your job?

A. I enjoy working on Interstate cases. I have an opportunity to build relationships with child support
professionals in different states and help resolve problems.
Q. What are some career highlights?

A. I was motivated to learn about interstate and am glad I took on that role. I have a passion to serve.

Q. What is your dream job?

A. Working with youth; I would like to be a case worker and meet with them on a weekly or biweekly
basis so I could get to know them and what they wanted out of life. I would help them reach their goals.

Q. What's a little known fact that you are willing to share?
A. My favorite pastime is watching or reading about true crimes.

Q. What is your prior employment?

A. Non-Profit Youth Shelter (Homeless, runaway, respite treatment, transitioning, and independent
living.) I was a residential technician.

Q. What University did you go to?

A. Grand Valley State University. My degree is in Public and Non-Profit Administration

  

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!!

The Third Circuit Court, Chief Judge Robert J. Colombo, Jr. and

Executive Court Administrator, Zenell Brown

invite you to watch the

 Detroit Tigers v. Minnesota Twins

August 10, 2018
7:10 p.m.

Enjoy an evening at Comerica Park, cheering on the Tigers with your coworkers! Tickets are $26 each plus fees. 
You have until July 10th to purchase, follow the link below, register as a new user and follow the prompts.  

We hope to see you there!!  GO Tigers!!

  

  Michigan Children's Law Center
(MCLC)





The first Tuesday of every month, Michigan Children's Law Center (MCLC) sponsors a forum of discussion and sharing at Fellowship Chapel in Detroit. In celebration of National Children's Month, MCLC had a panel discussion that included the associate minister of Fellowship Chapel and Judge Roberta Archer of the 36th District Court, along with Attorneys Berlinda Goode and Fred Gruber. The Court was represented by Richard Smart, Deputy Court Administrator of the Juvenile Section of the Family Division.  The discussion centered on ways in which children can always be uplifted no matter what their circumstances.  Words of wisdom and encouragement were exchanged.  The Court was delighted to participate in this worthwhile endeavor. 





Friend of the Court Attorney Minsun Lee and Friend of the Court Supervisor Michelle Lowe provided conference attendees with information about Friend of the Court processes and procedures at the Partnership for Dads conference held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at the Oakland Schools Education Service and Conference Center.  The 18th Annual Conference's theme this year was "Better Man, Better Dad." Ms. Lee is pictured here with Leon Walker, Executive Director of Partnership for Dads.


Yellow Stripes

                  

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 Happy June,
 
It's time to get outdoors to enjoy the sun and the fun.  The warm weather offers opportunities for the Court to participate in a number of outdoor public outreach events.  Once again, the Friend of the Court and Jury Services Department will be part of the Fifth Third E-bus tour and the City of Detroit's Senior Citizen event.  The Friend of the Court and the Court's Legal Self-Help Center will participate in various Father's Day forums.  And the Mental Health Court will hold its annual fair at the Detroit Eastern Market.  Over 200 people attended the Mental Health Court Fair last year and enjoyed the music, food, and vendors.   
 
The summer events allow the Court staff to interact with the citizens of Wayne County in their neighborhoods and provide information about services and programs.  Additional events are being scheduled and will be shared on the Court's social media and website as information becomes available. 
 
The Mission of Third Judicial Circuit Court is to provide accessible and equal justice with timely dispute resolution. The Third Judicial Circuit has jurisdiction over Civil, Criminal, and Family matters arising in the County of Wayne. The National Center for State Courts has cited the Third Circuit Court as one of the model urban courts in the United States for case flow management and the timely disposition of the Court's docket. For more information, visit our website www.3rdcc.org, follow us at Twitter@3rdccorg, and like us on Facebook @3rdccorg.


 

Judge Carla Testani was appointed to the Wayne County Third Circuit Court in May 2018 and is assigned to the Family Division.  

Judge Testani practiced domestic relations law in private practice for two decades before taking the bench.  She was most recently employed with Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, PLC before joining the law firm of Fausone Bohn, LLP in Northville, Michigan as Partner.  In addition to acting as an advocate in complex divorce and custody litigation, Judge Testani was frequently utilized as a neutral to mediate and arbitrate family law matters.  She has a Bachelor's of Science from the University of Michigan - Dearborn and a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School.  She has presented for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and is active in many community and legal organizations. Judge Testani and her husband, Tony, live in Northville and have three children: Mia (16), Julia (13) and Anthony (10). 




 JUDGE KEISUKE KOIZUMI

The Visiting Judge from Japan Program started in 1972.  Judge Keisuke Koizumi ("Judge Kei") visited the Third Circuit Court from September 2017 thru June 2018.  During his stay, Judge Kei visited the Wayne County Probate Court, the U.S. District Court, the U.S. District Bankruptcy Court, the Michigan Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.  He gave a guest lecture at the Wayne State University Law School.  In his leisure, he went to many sporting events, traveled to many national historical sites, and made a trip to the Grand Canyon. 
     
On June 1st, Judges, employees, and Court Administration gathered to say goodbye and to wish him well.  Judge Kei is truly kind, enthusiastic, and will greatly be missed. Third Circuit Court was privileged to serve as the host of Judge Kei.  He is now Third Circuit Court family!







July is designated as Juror Appreciation month!  Each year the Third Circuit Court has over 30,000 jurors serve in Civil, Criminal, Juvenile and Probate court. We appreciate our jurors for their service!  In honor of Juror Appreciation Month, test your knowledge of these jury terms by completing the crossword puzzle below.  

Jury Services Crossword Puzzle 




ACROSS
4.   A decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest. 
5.   A person who has committed a crime. 
6.   A court of law responsible for the trial or legal supervision of children under a specified age (18 in most countries). 
8.   An individual, company or institution sued or accused in a court of law. 
9.   A trial rendered invalid through an error in the proceedings. 
12. An order to appear before a judge or magistrate, or the writ containing it. 

DOWN
  1. A body of people (typically twelve in number) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court. 
  2. A public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law. 
  3. A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
  4. A preliminary examination of a witness or a juror by a judge or counsel. 

 7. Relating to ordinary citizens and their concerns, as distinct from military or ecclesiastical matters. 

8. Refuse further hearing to a case. 

10. Break off (a meeting, legal case, or game) with the intention of resuming it later. 

11.  Culpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing. 


WORD BANK: 
ADJOURN, CIVIL, CRIMINAL, DEFENDANT, DISMISS, GUILTY, JUDGE, JURY, JUVENILECOURT, MISTRIAL, PLAINTIFF, SUMMONS, VERDICT, VOIRDIRE

  



On May 22nd, Chief Judge Robert J. Colombo, Jr., Judge Melissa Cox, Judge Joseph Edward, and Judge Connie Kelley gave back to the community by providing and serving dinner to the girls at Alternatives for Girls.

The Alternatives for Girls' (AFG) mission is to help homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation, and help them to explore and access the support, resources and opportunities necessary to be safe, to grow strong, and to make positive choices in their lives.  Since 1987, AFG has provided critical services to the girls and young women they serve, including safe shelter, street outreach and educational support, vocational guidance, mentoring, prevention activities, and counseling.  The goal is to empower the girls and young women they serve to make positive choices.


  Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center
Top Ten Reasons Why Mediation Works!

By Bernard Dempsey, Executive Director

The decision-making process belongs to you:
You decide how to best resolve your dispute. Unlike a decision made in court, no one judges your case and tells you what to do. You get to reach an agreement that you can live with.

It works:
Over 50% of cases are successfully resolved in mediation. Even those that aren't resolved at mediation still provide helpful understandings that often allow a case to settle soon after.
 
It's affordable:
Mediation can often lead to resolution in only two to four hours, and the fee is generally split between the parties. Resolving a case saves the significant costs involved in pursuing or defending court proceedings.

It's quick:
When parties agree to try mediation, most disputes can be resolved in one session within a few weeks to a month of the mediator being selected.

It's effective:
Unlike a court decision where someone generally wins and someone generally loses, mediation can produce a creative "win-win" outcome.  People are generally more satisfied coming up with their own unique solutions.

It protects legal remedies:
If mediation/facilitation doesn't result in an agreement, you can still go to court.

It's convenient: 
There is usually flexibility as to when and where mediation is held.  

It's private:
Everything said or used for purposes of reaching a settlement remains confidential and cannot be used against you in court.

It avoids going to court:
Resolving a dispute through mediation or facilitation saves the time, energy, cost, trouble and frustration of preparing and attending potentially endless court proceedings and appeals.

It maintains relationships:
A successful mediation avoids forcing parties into antagonistic positions, and allows existing relationships to be re-established.