GET TO KNOW JEFF
Born and raised in southeast Michigan, I am a proud graduate of Eastern Michigan University. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I decided to pursue my passion for the law and headed to New Orleans, Louisiana where I graduated from Tulane University Law School. A Michigander at heart, I was drawn back to my home state after law school and have been practicing law here since.
I currently live in Ann Arbor, Michigan with my wife, daughter and quirky rescue dog Penny. My wife, Lisa, is a former early childhood educator who worked the entirety of her career in Washtenaw County. She was a teacher for the Great Start Readiness Program which provides free high-quality preschool in the State of Michigan before establishing a five-star rated early childhood program in Ann Arbor. Now, she’s taken another role as a stay-at-home mom to our beautiful baby, Nora.
When we have free time, we enjoy exploring our community, supporting the many local restaurants and shops and watching our favorite Michigan sports teams! I've also started a new hobby - teaching myself how to knit. My first project was a baby blanket for Nora.
BACKGROUND
I wasn’t always a lawyer and my path to becoming an attorney wasn’t a straight line. Before finishing my studies and passing the bar, I was a member of the laborer’s union, working in underground construction. It was there that I gained an appreciation for hard work and learned the value of working with others for a common goal.
As an attorney I have worked in private practice my entire career, where I’ve represented and counseled clients in a variety of legal matters with the common goal of helping them find a solution to their legal problems. My practice has largely been focused on litigation involving family law cases, civil disputes, and probate matters. While the litigation aspect to my experience has strengthened my knowledge and application of the Court and Evidentiary Rules necessary to be a judge, it’s also enhanced my compassion for my clients, having seen so many people dealing with the stresses of these major life events.
I’ve also had the good fortune of representing clients in different courts throughout the state of Michigan, allowing me the opportunity to advocate for my clients in front of dozens of judges, referees, and arbitrators. Watching so many decision makers in action has given me a good understanding of what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to resolving disputes. I’ve been able to see the good, the bad and the ugly of the legal system.
The courts play such an important role in society. Each individual in the community deserves to see the courts at their best and the law applied fairly to anyone who may need them either by choice or necessity. My goal is to ensure a courtroom without biases, without rash and inconsistent decisions, and to limit unnecessary frustrations. I strive to create an environment of empathy, kindness, professionalism, and consistency while working to ensure the court is upholding its important role in serving the residents of Washtenaw County.
WHAT JEFF IS ABOUT
FAIRNESS & IMPARTIALITY
Justice to me means equal application of the law to everyone. Public trust in the legal system begins and ends with judges. At a minimum, judges need to provide an unbiased and impartial application of the law. Personal ideologies and attitudes do not lead to just and fair decisions. Substituting personal feelings and relying on generalities undermines the law and will erode public trust.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Courts need to be accountable for the decisions they make that affect the members of their community. That is a responsibility I take seriously as an attorney and one I will take seriously as a judge. Accountability starts with making fair and just decisions. Not every party has the opportunity or means to appeal trial court decisions, which makes getting it right the first time all the more important.
EFFICIENCY
The wheels of justice often move slowly and move even slower with an inefficient court, which can wear on parties mentally, emotionally and financially. When that happens, an already stressful situation becomes even more stressful. This can in turn erode public confidence in the court system. Judges are responsible for making not only their own courtroom run efficiently, but court policies and procedures that can simplify and streamline the court system making it more accessible to the community.
LISTENING & EMPATHY
Individuals who find themselves in a courtroom, whether it be as a party to a lawsuit, defendant in a criminal case, or other matter are under a great amount of stress. Recognizing and understanding that as well as treating them with respect and having empathy is vital to confidence in the courts. Fairness in the courtroom starts with allowing the parties a meaningful opportunity to be heard. When judges spend more time talking than listening, the community gets shortchanged. A willingness to listen allows for a thorough consideration of the issues before the judge, which is what each individual deserves.
DECISIVENESS
Individuals are in court because they haven’t been able to resolve disputes and by the time their case gets in front of a judge, they are desperate for a resolution. Indecisiveness and unclear decisions lead only to further disputes and amounts to nothing more than kicking the can down the road. It is important for judges to make distinct and clear decisions to bring finality to disputes.
PREPARATION
Just as judges can tell when attorneys and litigants are unprepared, it’s also quite obvious when the judge isn’t prepared. Without a thorough understanding of the issues before the court, a judge can only reach a fair decision by luck. Effective judges do more than skim the pleadings before taking the bench. Judges need to not only be aware of the immediate issues, but also anticipate and be prepared for secondary issues that may arise.
THE ROLE OF A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE
The role of a circuit court judge involves presiding over cases that involve matters in the family, civil, criminal and juvenile courts. Below are Washtenaw County's descriptions of responsibilities within these court divisions. My goal as a future Circuit Court Judge is to ensure the law is applied equitably to all.
CRIMINAL & CIVIL
"Generally speaking, the civil/criminal division has original jurisdiction in all civil cases involving more than $25,000, and in all criminal cases where the offense involves a felony or certain serious misdemeanors.
The civil / criminal division also hears cases appealed from Washtenaw County’s District Courts, and from some administrative agencies of state government."
FAMILY LAW
"To adhere to the mission of the Washtenaw County Trial Court and to provide families with a variety of dispute resolution and service opportunities characterized by:
Fair treatment of all family members
Timely dispositions of all family matters consistent with the circumstances of the individual case in compliance with statutory, court rule and case law requirements
Enhancement of the quality of the litigation process
Building the public confidence in the court as an institution"
JUVENILE
LEARN MORE
The mission of the juvenile court in Washtenaw County is "to protect children, promote community safety, hold individuals accountable, restore victims, and increase the competencies of court-involved youth and families in partnership with the community."
GET IN TOUCH
If you'd like to connect, please don't hesitate to reach out!