LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor: This year, five Oakland County Circuit judges are up for reelection: Hon. Leo Bowman, Hon. Phyllis McMillen, Hon Denise Langford Morris, Hon. Wendy Potts, and Hon Michael Warren. These Judges have consistently performed their duties with honor and judicial integrity. After serving 26 years as an Oakland County Circuit Court Judge, I have had the opportunity to work with all five of these outstanding jurists and know of their commitment to our justice system. Unfortunately, during this election campaign, many of these Judges have been the subjects of defamatory ads that mischaracterize their decisions, or, even worse, flat-out falsehoods. I have reviewed many of these spiteful ads and I am simply appalled. They are dishonest and a gross manipulation of the facts. They portray a picture of Judges not doing their jobs. This is simply not the case. The Oakland Circuit has always been considered one of the finest benches in the state. These judges are continuing that reputation. I would like to take a moment to talk about Judge Phyllis McMillen, who has been the target of the most egregious ad. Judge McMillen has sat on the bench for over 17 years. I have known her as she sat as a District Judge and now as a Circuit Judge, as well as through her many activities that go beyond her role as a judge. Her initiatives include programs that have helped the community, including creating a specialized domestic violence docket and a Sobriety Court program. She also has several programs that allow students of all ages to learn about the court system, and the effects of their own decisions in life, by viewing actual cases. Additionally, Judge McMillen has sat on the board of several community organizations including the Waterford Coalition for Youth, the Waterford Cultural Council, and the Oakland County Substance Abuse Services Advisory Counsel. She still serves the community by serving as a board member for the Oakland County Community Corrections Advisory Board and the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency. A large amount of money is being spent attacking Judge McMillen for her actions in a recent case. While people are free to disagree about the outcome of a particular case, what is troubling is how these ads mischaracterize Judge McMillen's actions in order to discredit her. I would like to set the record straight. The ad implies that the defendant was in front of Judge McMillen for a sex offense--he was not. He was in front of Judge McMillen for breaking and entering a non-residential building. The ad also implies that the only sentence she imposed was for community supervision--this is also not correct. Judge McMillen sentenced the defendant to serve a year in jail, as was recommended by the Department of Corrections. Because Judge McMillen was concerned about the defendant's apparent drug addiction, in addition to the year in jail, she sentenced him to spend an additional 3 months in a drug rehabilitation center, and added 3 years of community supervision to the recommended year in jail. When it comes time to vote, I strongly urge you to remember three simple things: (1) Judge McMillen along with Judges Langford Morris, Potts, Warren and Bowman have upheld the integrity of the court system by upholding the law, (2) They have given back hundreds--if not thousands--of hours of their time to helping improve the community, and (3) these five judges represent the highest tradition of our court system and we should retain these strong, independent and good judges. Fred M. Mester retired judge Oakland County Circuit Court Published: Thu, Nov 1, 2012