Alton Davis
| Alton T. Davis | |
|---|---|
| Michigan Supreme Court Justice | |
| Assumed office August 26, 2010 | |
| Michigan Fourth District Court of Appeals Judge | |
| In office 2005-2010 |
Alton T. Davis was a judge on the Michigan Supreme Court. He was appointed to this position by Governor Jennifer Granholm on August 26, 2010[1] and his term ended on January 1, 2011.[2]
2010 election
- Main article: Michigan judicial elections, 2010
Davis ran for re-election on November 2, 2010 as a Democrat. He was defeated by Republican Mary Beth Kelly.[3][4]
According to his campaign website, Davis sought to "provide open, impartial and prompt resolution of disputes and lawsuits, and to ensure that every person has a right to be fully heard and treated courteously."[5] He was endorsed by the United Auto Workers, the Michigan Educational Association, the Michigan AFL-CIO, the Michigan Nurses Association, the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters, the Police Officers Association of Michigan, and Clean Water Action.[6]
Campaign video for Justice Davis
Education
Judge Davis is a graduate of North Central Michigan College, Western Michigan University, and the Detroit College of Law. He is now married and has two grown daughters. He and his wife live in Grayling, Michigan.[7]
Career
Prior to joining the Michigan Supreme Court, Davis served as a judge on the Michigan Fourth District Court of Appeals. Before this, Judge Davis had served intermittently as a visiting judge on the Court of Appeals between 1985-1996. At the time of his appointment, Judge Davis was Chief Judge of the 46th Judicial Circuit of Michigan, including Otsego, Crawford, and Kalkaska Counties. Prior to his election to the trial bench, Judge Davis was in private practice for ten years. During that time, he served for four years as Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and then Prosecuting Attorney in Crawford County.[7]
Awards, memberships and civic activities
- State Bar of Michigan
- 46th Circuit Bar Association
- Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
- State Bar of Michigan Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions
- 46th Circuit Trial Court Demonstration Project
- American Judges Association
- Sigma Nu Phi Legal Fraternity
- Michigan Judges Association: Treasurer (1999-2000), Secretary (2000 to 2001), Vice-President (2002), President-Elect (2003), President (2004), and Past-President (2005).
Judge Davis was former Chairman, Crawford County Democratic Party, Regional Coordinator for Governor James Blanchard during his first campaign and Trustee, Michigan State Bldg. Authority, by Appointment of Governor James Blanchard.[7]
Court orders new trial
In a two-to-one decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals determined that because the jury was not notified that a victim of a traffic crash had been smoking marijuana, the conviction of Matthew Soars was to be thrown out and he will be granted a new trial. Soares, who had been drinking, ran a stop sign and then collided into William Day, who was riding his motorcycle. Day subsequently died. "Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in granting the prosecutor's motion to exclude evidence of Day's use of marijuana at the time of the accident, reverse defendant's conviction, and order a new trial," wrote Judges Donald S. Owens and Peter D. O'Connell in the majority opinion. But Judge Alton Davis voted that the conviction should stand. "Again, I conclude that this case presents a close evidentiary question, and the majority inappropriately substitutes its own judgment for that of the trial court," Davis wrote. "I would hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the evidence."[8]
See also
External links
- Michigan Court of Appeals: Alton Davis
- Official campaign website of Judge Davis
- Granholm Appoints Alton Davis Judge
- Michigan Liberal: Interview with Judge Davis, Part 1 and Part 2
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education
- Appeals Court upholds on Kasson gravel extraction
- Hearing on auto mechanic's health condition
- Botches follow botches: Error-strewn case costs millions
- Davis rules no jurisdiction in National Guard camp
- County Commissioners vow not to pay attorney fees
- Davis determines no refunds for overpayment of child support
- Tension in Supreme Court on how to best interpret statutes
- MLive.com, "Supporters: New Michigan Supreme Court appointee Alton Davis a fair judge, no ideologue," August 26, 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ The Michigan Messenger, "Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver retires, Granholm appoints Judge Alton Thomas Davis," August 26, 2010
- ↑ Michigan Constitution, Article VI, Section 23
- ↑ Michigan 2010 Unofficial General Election Results
- ↑ MI Department of State: 2010 Official Michigan General Candidate Listing Scroll down to "Justice of the Supreme Court..."
- ↑ Justice Davis campaign site
- ↑ Justice Davis campaign site: Testimonials
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Michigan Court of Appeals: Alton Davis
- ↑ New trial ordered in death of Almont man (dead link)
