(Photo by Robert Chase)
By Tom Kirvan
Legal News
A voracious reader, Judge Edward Sosnick was apt to juggle three or four books at a time, quenching his thirst for learning at each step of a lifelong literary journey.
Of all the books he consumed over his life, which came to an end Sept. 22 at the age of 82, the former Oakland County Circuit Court judge had a favorite that spoke volumes about his desire and commitment to do good.
Its title was “Watership Down,” the 1972 heroic fantasy novel written by English author Richard Adams.
For Sosnick, the book was one part escape valve and two parts inspiration.
“It is a classic tale, a great mix of heroism and fantasy,” Sosnick said in a 2012 Legal News interview. “We need both in life.”
Sosnick’s life was shaped largely by his mother, Ruth, an immigrant from Ukraine who worked hard to make a life for herself and her family, raising four kids with love and kindness.
She was Sosnick’s role model, instilling in him a strong work ethic, a willingness to help out, and a commitment for fairness and equality. She also taught him the value of compassion, especially for those less fortunate.
“Much of our outcomes are dependent on where we started,” Sosnick said in the interview with The Legal News. “Kids coming from broken homes, where there are no role models, little in the way of support, have such an uphill climb to make it. I see the heartbreak of it all in court every day.”
During his time on the bench, which began in 1985 with the 48th District Court and then for 24 years with the Oakland County Circuit Court, Sosnick decried the lack of civility and compassion in society.
“A lot of people could use a crash course in basic manners,” he said. “I have had a saying taped to my bench in court for years. It says: ‘Think it; don’t say it.’ Good advice for most everyone.”
A 1963 graduate of Wayne State University, Sosnick majored in ancient history with a minor in chemistry, not exactly two subjects that would portend a career in the legal profession. But Sosnick often preferred the road less traveled, opting to explore the possibilities at Wayne State Law School, a decision that would ultimately impact countless lives in a positive fashion over the course of his 56 years in the law.
Following law school, Sosnick spent several years in private practice before serving as a senior trial attorney with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, a job that would lead to his seat on the district court bench.
“My concern for the plight of others really began to take shape when I was a district judge,” he said. “In that position, I presided over drinking and driving cases by the hundreds over the course of year and I was struck by the impact the crime had on the ‘significant others’ of all those defendants that I sentenced. The effect of alcoholism on the family is one of society’s great challenges and I figured I’d try to do something about it.”
As such, SOAP — Significant Other Awareness Program — was born. It became nationally known several years later when he ascended to the Oakland County Circuit Court bench in 1989 and began handling divorce cases – by the droves.
In particular, he remembered appearing at an area elementary school for a special program and fielding a question from a little girl caught in the middle of a bitter custody battle.
“She raised her hand and asked something to the effect, ‘Do I have to go with Dad when he picks me up?’ That question was very telling and made it clear to me that we needed to address the consequences of divorce on children,” said Sosnick, a 1959 Detroit Mumford High grad.
He then teamed with his attorney friend, Richard Victor, to develop a program, SMILE (Start Making It Livable for Everyone), designed to educate parents on how best to handle divorce for the sake of their children. The program would eventually attain national and international stature.
Sosnick’s knack for getting things done then turned to another segment of the population when he helped create SAVE, short for “Serving Adults who are Vulnerable and/or Elderly.” The need to address the issue of elder abuse crystallized when his mother was in an assisted living facility.
Sosnick continued his impactful work in yet another area when he presided over the juvenile drug court program in Oakland County from 2001-10. Less than a month after retiring from the bench in 2013, Sosnick began serving as director of The RESTORE Foundation, a nonprofit organization created in 2008 to help supply funding for the treatment program, touting its virtues for all to hear.
“As a judge, I have seen the undeniable connection between drug use and crime, and how it continues to pack our prisons as a result,” he said at the time. “Drug courts, on the other hand, work to turn lives around. We are actually saving lives that otherwise would be lost if we didn’t have this drug court option.”
Among his closest friends on the bench was Wendy Potts, who was one of the foremost proponents of the drug court program during her distinguished tenure as an Oakland County Circuit Court judge.
“As much as Judge Sosnick loved receiving plaques and recognition, his contributions were a result of being a caring, giving, and kind person,” said Potts, now a mediator with JAMS in Detroit. “These same qualities made him a wonderful mentor, judge, and friend. He raised the awareness of substance abuse in our community and created innovative ways to address the disease. His commitment to The RESTORE Foundation, including naming the entity, helped many of the participants find a path to a productive life. His charismatic presence is already missed.”
Over the course of his career, Sosnick was honored by the State Bar of Michigan with the “Champion of Justice Award” and by the Oakland County Bar Association with its “Distinguished Service Award.” He also was the recipient of the coveted “Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award.”
Sosnick was a confirmed bachelor until joining the marital ranks at age 53. He often joked that he was trying for a spot in the “Guinness Book of Records” for dating before finding the love of his life, his wife Darlene. She brought two daughters, Karen and Meredith, into his life, and eventually four grandchildren, Jane, Estee, Abe, and Joey.
Funeral services were held Sept. 26 at the Davidson/Hermelin Chapel at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oakland County Bar Foundation (the Edward Sosnick Memorial Fund) or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
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