Traverse City Record-Eagle

Michigan

October 14, 2010

Michigan Court of Appeals candidates

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1st District

NAME: Cynthia Diane StephensAGE: 59

RESIDENCE: Detroit

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, 1971, University of Michigan; law degree, 1976, Emory University law school.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the appeals court by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, 2008; Wayne County circuit judge, 1985-2008; 36th District Court judge, 1981-85. Before becoming a judge, she was vice chair of the Wayne County Charter Commission and associate general counsel at the Michigan Senate.

PERSONAL: One child.

ONLINE: None.

NAME: Kurtis T. WilderAGE: 51

RESIDENCE: Wayne County's Canton Township

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in political science, University of Michigan, 1981; law degree, University of Michigan law school, 1984.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. John Engler, 1998; elected to the court in 2000, 2004; chief judge of the Washtenaw County Circuit Court; previously practiced law with the law firms of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, PC in Lansing and with Butzel Long, PC in Detroit.

PERSONAL: N/A

ONLINE: None.

2nd District

NAME: Pat DonofrioAGE: 66

RESIDENCE: Macomb County's Macomb Township

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, Wayne State University, 1967; law degree, Wayne State University law school, 1970.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. John Engler, 2002; elected to court in 2004; Macomb County Circuit judge, 1997-2002; president of private law firm.

PERSONAL: Married to Charlene; two children.

ONLINE: None.

3rd District

NAME: David H. SawyerAGE: 63

RESIDENCE: Grand Rapids

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, 1970, University of Arizona; law degree, Valparaiso University law school, 1973.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Elected to Court of Appeals in 1986; re-elected to court in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006; Kent County prosecutor 1977-86.

PERSONAL: Married to Elsbeth; two children.

ONLINE: None.

NAME: Douglas B. ShapiroAGE: 55

RESIDENCE: Ann Arbor

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, University of Michigan, 1983; law degree, University of Michigan law school, 1986; also studied at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland.

POLITICAL CAREER: Appointed to Court of Appeals by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, 2009.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: In private practice with Muth and Fett PC in Ypsilanti, 1991-2009, becoming a partner in 1995; staff attorney, Center for Social Gerontology, Ann Arbor, 1991; assistant at the State Appellate Defenders Office in Detroit, 1989-90; law clerk to Michigan Supreme Court Justice James Brickley, 1986-89.

PERSONAL: Married to Jeannette; two children.

ONLINE: www.judgeshapiro.comNAME: Joel P. HoekstraAGE: 63

RESIDENCE: Grand Rapids

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, Calvin College; law degree, Valparaiso University law school.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Elected to appeals court in 1994; re-elected in 1998, 2002 and 2006; district court judge in Kent County; Kent County assistant prosecutor.

PERSONAL: N/A.

ONLINE: None.

4th District

NAME: Donald S. OwensAGE: 66

RESIDENCE: Williamston

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, 1966; master's degree, 1967; law degree, 1969, all from the University of Michigan.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the Court of Appeals, by Gov. John Engler, 1999; elected in 2000, 2004. Ingham County probate judge, 1974-99; previously in private law practice.

PERSONAL: Married to Jeanie; four children.

ONLINE: None.

NAME: William C. WhitbeckAGE: 69

RESIDENCE: Lansing

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in journalism, Northwestern University, 1963; law degree, University of Michigan law school, 1966.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. John Engler, 1997; elected in 1998, 2004; two decades in private law practice as partner at Honigman Miller, Dykema Gossett, and McLellan, Schlaybaugh & Whitbeck; served in the administrations of Republican Govs. George Romney, William Milliken and Engler; U.S. Army Reserves, 1966-72.

PERSONAL: Married to Stephanie.

ONLINE: www.judgewhitbeck.com

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