Biographical boxes on candidates for the Michigan Court of Appeals. All are incumbent judges. The districts are where candidates will appear on ballots.
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1st DISTRICT:
Calhoun, Hillsdale, Lenawee, Monroe, Wayne counties
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NAME: Cynthia Diane Stephens
AGE: 59 (Born Aug. 27, 1951)
RESIDENCE: Detroit
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, 1971, University of Michigan; law degree, 1976, Emory University law school.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the appeals court by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, 2008; Wayne County circuit judge, 1985-2008; 36th District Court judge, 1981-85. Before becoming a judge, she was vice chair of the Wayne County Charter Commission and associate general counsel at the Michigan Senate.
PERSONAL: One child.
ONLINE: None.
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NAME: Kurtis T. Wilder
AGE: 51 (Born April 1959)
RESIDENCE: Wayne County's Canton Township
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in political science, University of Michigan, 1981; law degree, University of Michigan law school, 1984.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. John Engler, 1998; elected to the court in 2000, 2004; chief judge of the Washtenaw County Circuit Court; previously practiced law with the law firms of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, PC in Lansing and with Butzel Long, PC in Detroit.
PERSONAL: N/A
ONLINE: None.
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2nd DISTRICT:
Shiawassee, Genesee, Oakland, Macomb counties
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NAME: Pat Donofrio
AGE: 66 (Born June 1944)
RESIDENCE: Macomb County's Macomb Township
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, Wayne State University, 1967; law degree, Wayne State University law school, 1970.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. John Engler, 2002; elected to court in 2004; Macomb County Circuit judge, 1997-2002; president of private law firm.
PERSONAL: Married to Charlene; two children.
ONLINE: None.
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3rd DISTRICT:
Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Berrien, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, Jackson,
Washtenaw counties
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NAME: David H. Sawyer
AGE: 63 (Born July 14, 1947)
RESIDENCE: Grand Rapids
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, 1970, University of Arizona; law degree, Valparaiso University law school, 1973.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Elected to Court of Appeals in 1986; re-elected to court in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006; Kent County prosecutor 1977-86.
PERSONAL: Married to Elsbeth; two children.
ONLINE: None.
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NAME: Douglas B. Shapiro
AGE: 55 (Born Nov. 4, 1954)
RESIDENCE: Ann Arbor
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, University of Michigan, 1983; law degree, University of Michigan law school, 1986; also studied at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland.
POLITICAL CAREER: Appointed to Court of Appeals by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, 2009.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: In private practice with Muth and Fett PC in Ypsilanti, 1991-2009, becoming a partner in 1995; staff attorney, Center for Social Gerontology, Ann Arbor, 1991; assistant at the State Appellate Defenders Office in Detroit, 1989-90; law clerk to Michigan Supreme Court Justice James Brickley, 1986-89.
PERSONAL: Married to Jeannette; two children.
ONLINE: http://www.judgeshapiro.com
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NAME: Joel P. Hoekstra
AGE: 63 (Born May 1947)
RESIDENCE: Grand Rapids
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, Calvin College; law degree, Valparaiso University law school.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Elected to appeals court in 1994; re-elected in 1998, 2002 and 2006; district court judge in Kent County; Kent County assistant prosecutor.
PERSONAL: N/A.
ONLINE: None.
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4th DISTRICT:
Upper Peninsula; Ingham,
Livingston, Clinton, Lapeer,
St. Clair, Montcalm, Gratiot, Saginaw, Tuscola, Sanilac, Huron, Oceana, Mecosta, Isabella, Midland, Bay,
Mason, Lake, Osceola, Clare, Gladwin, Arenac, Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee,
Roscommon, Ogemaw,
Iosco, Benzie, Leelanau,
Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Crawford, Oscoda, Alcona, Antrim, Otsego,
Montmorency, Alpena, Charlevoix, Emmet,
Cheboygan, Presque Isle
counties.
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NAME: Donald S. Owens
AGE: 66 (Born Dec. 25, 1943)
RESIDENCE: Williamston
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, 1966; master's degree, 1967; law degree, 1969, all from the University of Michigan.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the Court of Appeals, by Gov. John Engler, 1999; elected in 2000, 2004. Ingham County probate judge, 1974-99; previously in private law practice.
PERSONAL: Married to Jeanie; four children.
ONLINE: None.
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NAME: William C. Whitbeck
AGE: 69 (Born Jan. 17, 1941)
RESIDENCE: Lansing
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in journalism, Northwestern University, 1963; law degree, University of Michigan law school, 1966.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. John Engler, 1997; elected in 1998, 2004; two decades in private law practice as partner at Honigman Miller, Dykema Gossett, and McLellan, Schlaybaugh & Whitbeck; served in the administrations of Republican Govs. George Romney, William Milliken and Engler; U.S. Army Reserves, 1966-72.
PERSONAL: Married to Stephanie.
ONLINE: http://www.judgewhitbeck.com
Published: Thu, Oct 7, 2010
