Investiture held for Boonstra

By Roberta M. Gubbins Legal News Michigan Court of Appeals Chief Judge William B. Murphy opened a special session of the Michigan Court of Appeals with the traditional 'all rise' as the robed appellate judges entered the Michigan Library & Historical Center auditorium to witness the investiture of Hon. Mark T. Boonstra. The ceremony was held Sept. 27. Once all were seated, the master of ceremonies, Thomas W. Cranmer, former president of the State Bar of Michigan, took the podium, calling upon Rev. LaVerne McCain Gill, former pastor of the Webster United Church of Christ to give the invocation, which was followed with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Adam and Logan Boonstra and the National Anthem sung by Mary Martin. The first speaker, Anthony A. Derezinski, Esq., Ann Arbor city councilman, former state senator, and long-time friend of Boonstra's, said, "You might say that Mark's first role in public policy was legislative as Mark was part of my staff when I was a new senator and I relied on him and the others for analysis of new laws. Now Mark will be applying his outstanding legal skills in full time public service for the people of Michigan." Derezinski was followed by Allyn D. Kantor, Esq, adjunct professor at the University of Michigan Law School, who said that a good judge is one that has a passion for justice and the ability to think and write about the law clearly, adding, "Mark Boonstra has that ability." Other speakers included the Attorney General Bill Schuette, Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert P. Young, J.r, and the Judge Ralph B. Guy, Jr., senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, for whom Boonstra clerked. Former Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor requested that the Oath of Office be administered. Lawyer Mark T. Boonstra came to the podium, raised his right hand, placed his left hand on the family bible held by his wife Martha Rabaut Boonstra, repeated the Oath of Office administered by Judge Guy and officially became the 80th judge to serve on the Michigan Court of Appeals. Martha Rabaut Boonstra, Boonstra's wife, assisted him with his robe while other members of his family, Adam and Logan Boonstra, Timothy and Katherine Gutwald and Chea Tyrrell looked on. "The best advice I received after I was appointed judge by Governor Snyder," said Boonstra, "was from Cliff Taylor who told me I should 'not turn around and look behind me when someone said 'judge.' After being on the bench for about six months, I no longer turn around when I hear 'judge.'" "I learned from Judge Guy," Boonstra said, "that a judge should be courteous, respectful of all, of good temperament, modest, and humble." Boonstra, a Republican, said he believed "that the role of judges is not to make law and I promise to abide by that rule of law principal -- to follow the law, rather than tinker with it." "I am honored and privileged to be here today and would like to thank all those you helped make this day possible," he said in conclusion. The ceremony ended with Mary Martin singing "God Bless America," and a closing prayer by Timothy Gutwald and Chea Tyrell. Judge Murphy closed the court and invited all to the reception at the Hall of Justice. Published: Fri, Oct 5, 2012

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