All seven candidates for two Ingham County Circuit Court judgeships said they hope to run a fair and efficient courtroom if elected.
The Aug. 6 primary will narrow the race from seven candidates to four who will continue on to the Nov. 5 ballot.
Candidates are vying for six-year positions that will replace 30th circuit court judges Lawrence Glazer of the family division and Peter Houk of the criminal division, who both announced their retirements last year.
Rosemarie Aquilina, 44, is a Lansing resident and the owner of law firm that focuses on family cases. A practicing attorney for 18 years, she is the single mother of three and has been involved in military law as an officer in the Michigan Army National Guard. If elected, she hopes to gain a position in the family division.
“I believe our families, our children, are our most important resource,” Aquilina said.
Richard D. Ball, 52, is an East Lansing resident and the married father of three. A practicing attorney for 15 years, he was elected in 1992 as a judge for the 54-B District Court, 101 Linden St. Ball now serves as the chief judge. If elected to the family division, Ball said he hopes to give more priority to child custody cases and improve public communication overall.
“My goal is to improve the dissemination of the reason for decisions to the public through the media,” Ball said.
Mark Blumer, 52, is an East Lansing resident and has been the assistant attorney general for 26 years and is serving as the chief criminal prosecutor for the state. A married father of two, Blumer said he has tried “some of the toughest and best-known criminal cases in the state” and hopes to bring his experience to the bench.
“My experience is vastly greater than almost any other candidate,” Blumer said. “I hope to bring efficiency and dignity to the court.”
Hugh Clarke, 48, is a Lansing resident and has been a trial lawyer for 20 years. Clarke is married and serves as a volunteer at various Lansing area schools. Clarke said he will bring his wide range of experience to the circuit court.
“You name the case, I’ve represented it,” Clarke said. “People want their cases to be looked at on an individual basis and not lumped in with everyone else.”
Richard Kerbawy, 53, is a Haslett resident and the chief attorney referee for the Ingham County Circuit Court Family Division where he holds more than 3,500 hearings each year.
“Circuit court needs to reevaluate the resources we devote to the family division simply because of the sheer number of children and families in the court,” Kerbawy said. “I’m an advocate for mothers and fathers taking back responsibility for their children.”
Janelle A. Lawless, 46, is an Okemos resident and an attorney at the Ingham County Probate Court for 12 years. Lawless served as a practicing attorney for the previous eight years. A married mother of two, she hopes to serve in the family division.
“That’s where my experience lies and where my heart lies,” Lawless said. “And where you can have the most impact.”
Beverley Nettles-Nickerson, 44, is a Lansing resident and the chief judge at 54-A District Court, 124 W. Michigan Ave. in Lansing, since 1998. A married mother of three, she said her experience as judge will assist her in a new courtroom.
“I hope to continue to work with the judges there in a cohesive and productive manner,” Nettles-Nickerson said. “And to get the parents involved.”
Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, predicted Aquilina, Ball, Clarke and Nettles-Nickerson as the candidates most likely to continue after the primaries.
“There’s only two judges and I have to give them an edge,” Ballenger said, referring to Ball and Nettles-Nickerson’s experience at district court.
Clarke’s name has been around circuit court elections for years, Ballenger said, and Aquilina “has been around politics a long time,” but the election is not a guarantee.
“It’s a tough call,” Ballenger said. “They’re all very sharp people.”
