Candidate Ratings and Endorsements

We respectfully invite all candidates seeking a judicial or quasi-judicial position to seek out a rating and endorsement from the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM).  WLAM is proud to endorse and rate candidates running for election or seeking appointment to such offices.

WLAM  makes all ratings and endorsements without regard to sex, party affiliation, religion, national origin or age. The decision is based on  professional qualifications and a demonstrated interest in advancing the cause of women in general, and women in the legal profession.

All ratings and endorsements are made solely on the basis of WLAM evaluation criteria and may include review of the candidate’s application, an interview of the candidate, a background check, input from references,  input from WLAM members of the region where the office is located, and any other first hand knowledge that committee members may have about the candidate.   All deliberations of the Candidate Rating and Endorsement Committee are confidential.

Each candidate, for either elected or appointed office, will be given one of the following ratings: Highly Recommended, Recommended, Not Recommended, or No Rating. The ratings are defined as follows:

Highly Recommended: to be rated ”highly recommended” the candidate must exhibit superior qualities for judicial service. The candidate must have demonstrated excellence in legal ability, wide experience, wisdom, intellect, insight, and impartiality. The candidate should have generally participated in civil, charitable, religious, or political activities in the community and professional bar organizations. The candidate should be acknowledged in the legal community as affirmatively espousing the position of all women in society and a demonstrated record of advancing women in the legal profession.

Recommended: to be rated “recommended” the candidate must exhibit the essential qualities and a fitness for judicial service. The candidate must have good legal ability, experience, wisdom, intellect, insight, and impartiality. The candidate should have participated in civic, charitable, religious, or political activities in the community or professional bar organizations. The candidate should be seen in the legal community as affirmatively espousing the position of all women in society and a demonstrated record of advancing women in the legal profession.

Not Recommended: to be rated “not recommended” the candidate must not exhibit the essential qualities and a fitness for judicial service because the candidate is lacking in one or more of the following areas: good legal ability, experience, wisdom, intellect, insight, or impartiality. In addition, or alternatively, the candidate is not viewed in the legal community as affirmatively espousing the position of all women in society and does not have a demonstrated record of advancing women in the legal profession.

No rating: a candidate will not be rated if there is insufficient information available to the committee on the candidate’s fitness for judicial office or if the candidate withdraws his or her request for a rating before the process is completed.

All candidate ratings and endorsements will be announced to the public.

If you would like to seek a rating and endorsement from WLAM, please click here to download the application.   The completed application may be submitted via email or mail to [email protected], or 120 N. Washington Square, Suite 110A, Lansing, MI 48933.

For those seeking an appointment to a judicial position as opposed to an elective judicial position: at this time, WLAM is only endorsing and/or rating candidates who have been granted an interview by the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Qualifications Committee and/or the Governor’s office.

2020 Endorsements

• Judge Stacia Buchanan, 54A District – Highly recommend
• Kelly Marie Collins-Binkowski, 43-1 District – Highly recommend
• Clarence Dass, Oakland County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Judge Kameshia D. Gant , Oakland County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Mike Hodges, Lapeer County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Jenny Johnsen-Sarber, Kent County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, Michigan Supreme Court – Highly recommend
• Kelly Elizabeth Morton, 56A District Court – Highly recommend
• Elisabeth Mimi Mullins, 28th District Court – Highly recommend
• Maura Murphy, Oakland County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Amy Reiser, Washtenaw County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Nick Roumel, Washtenaw County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Referee Lorie Nancy Savin, Oakland County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Shannon Watkins Schlegel, Clinton-Gratiot County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Tracy Elisabeth Van den Bergh, Washtenaw County Circuit – Highly recommend
• Erane Chrysade Washington, 14B District Court – Highly recommend
• Elizabeth Welch, Michigan Supreme Court – Highly recommend

Gubernatorial Appointments

• Jackie Dupler, 30th Circuit Court, Ingham County – Highly Recommend

Past Ratings and Endorsements

Click below to see ratings and endorsements issued by WLAM in the past:

2019 Endorsements 2019 Endorsements

2018 Endorsements2018 Endorsements