Dana Margaret Hathaway
Dana Margaret Hathaway is a judge of the Michigan 3rd Circuit Court. She assumed office in 2013. Her current term ends on January 1, 2031.
Hathaway ran for re-election for judge of the Michigan 3rd Circuit Court. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Hathaway is an assistant prosecuting attorney for Wayne County. Prior to this, she worked in private practice. Before entering the legal profession, Hathaway worked as a forensic chemist in the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Wayne County, Michigan (2024)
General election
General election for Michigan 3rd Circuit Court (18 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Michigan 3rd Circuit Court on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Annette Berry (Nonpartisan) | 7.6 | 269,327 | |
✔ | Karen Braxton (Nonpartisan) | 6.3 | 224,216 | |
✔ | Bridget Hathaway (Nonpartisan) | 6.3 | 223,596 | |
✔ | Jerome Cavanagh (Nonpartisan) | 6.3 | 222,848 | |
✔ | ![]() | Regina Thomas (Nonpartisan) | 6.2 | 219,950 |
✔ | Kathleen McCarthy (Nonpartisan) | 6.0 | 212,613 | |
✔ | Tracy Green (Nonpartisan) | 5.9 | 210,061 | |
✔ | Kevin Cox (Nonpartisan) | 5.9 | 207,791 | |
✔ | ![]() | Dana Margaret Hathaway (Nonpartisan) | 5.8 | 205,401 |
✔ | Leslie Smith (Nonpartisan) | 5.3 | 188,925 | |
✔ | Qiana Lillard (Nonpartisan) | 5.1 | 179,388 | |
✔ | Catherine Heise (Nonpartisan) | 5.1 | 178,898 | |
✔ | Edward Ewell Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 5.1 | 178,826 | |
✔ | Prentis Edwards Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 4.8 | 171,589 | |
✔ | Paul Cusick (Nonpartisan) | 4.7 | 167,134 | |
✔ | Adel Harb (Nonpartisan) | 4.6 | 164,484 | |
✔ | Lawrence Elassal (Nonpartisan) | 4.6 | 161,962 | |
✔ | Charles Hegarty (Nonpartisan) | 4.3 | 152,798 |
Total votes: 3,539,807 | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Hathaway in this election.
2018
General election
General election for Michigan 3rd Circuit Court (16 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Michigan 3rd Circuit Court on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Dana Margaret Hathaway (Nonpartisan) | 7.8 | 248,761 |
✔ | ![]() | Deborah Thomas (Nonpartisan) | 7.6 | 240,778 |
✔ | Annette Berry (Nonpartisan) | 7.5 | 239,572 | |
✔ | Karen Braxton (Nonpartisan) | 7.1 | 227,278 | |
✔ | Jerome Cavanagh (Nonpartisan) | 7.0 | 221,566 | |
✔ | Kathleen McCarthy (Nonpartisan) | 6.7 | 212,946 | |
✔ | Kevin Cox (Nonpartisan) | 6.5 | 208,304 | |
✔ | Leslie Smith (Nonpartisan) | 5.9 | 188,721 | |
✔ | Catherine Heise (Nonpartisan) | 5.9 | 187,777 | |
✔ | Qiana Lillard (Nonpartisan) | 5.6 | 178,880 | |
✔ | Prentis Edwards Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 5.5 | 175,133 | |
✔ | Gregory Bill (Nonpartisan) | 5.4 | 171,153 | |
✔ | Adel Harb (Nonpartisan) | 5.3 | 168,962 | |
✔ | Edward Ewell Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 5.3 | 167,159 | |
✔ | Paul Cusick (Nonpartisan) | 5.2 | 165,694 | |
✔ | Charles Hegarty (Nonpartisan) | 4.9 | 156,625 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 21,211 |
Total votes: 3,180,520 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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2012
- See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2012
Hathaway advanced from the primary election, receiving 18.2 percent of the vote. She was one of six candidates competing for three seats on the 3rd Circuit Court. Adams was elected with 21.8 percent of the vote.[2][3][4]
Endorsement
- The Detroit News. To read the endorsement, visit: The Detroit News, "Best picks for Wayne Circuit judge," July 23, 2012 (dead link).
- The Detroit Free Press. To read the endorsement: visit: Detroit Free Press, "Endorsements: Judge position in Wayne, Oakland counties," October 7, 2012.
Bar association ratings
The Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association rated candidates running for judicial office in 2012. Candidates were given one of five ratings: Outstanding, Well Qualified, Qualified, Not Qualified or No Rating.
Hathaway was rated as Qualified.[5]
2010
- See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2010
Hathaway ran for a seat on the Oakland County Probate Court in 2010. She was defeated by Kathleen Ryan in the general election on November 2, 2010.[6][7]
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 221 judges of the Michigan Circuit Courts are selected in an identical manner, each serving six-year terms. They are chosen in nonpartisan elections and must face re-election if they wish to continue serving. Candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions.[8] Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term.[9]
Selection of the chief judge
The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the state supreme court to two-year terms.[8]
Qualifications
To be elected to either of these courts, a judge must:[8]
- be a qualified elector of his or her district;
- be licensed to practice law in the state;
- have at least five years of law practice experience; and
- be under the age of 70.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dana Margaret Hathaway did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Noteworthy cases
Man who shot, killed Renisha McBride sentenced to at least 17 years in prison (2014)
- See also: 3rd Circuit Court, Michigan
Judge Hathaway, on September 3, 2014, handed down a 17 to 32-year prison sentence for Theodore Wafer, who was convicted of shooting and killing 19-year-old Renisha McBride.[10][11]
McBride knocked on Wafer's door after she had a car accident on November 2, 2013. It was early in the morning, still dark, and Wafer was awoken by the knocking on his door. Thinking that McBride was an intruder, grabbed his shotgun and, when he opened the door, shot her. McBride was unarmed. The case also had racial undertones, as McBride was black and Wafer is white. However, the judge stated that she didn't think the situation had anything to do with race.[12]
Prosecutors asked for a second-degree murder charge, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years, as well as an additional two years for unlawful gun use. Wafer's attorney highlighted her client's remorse and argued that, at his age (Wafer was 55 at the time of sentencing), more than 10 years in prison was a "death sentence."[10]
The judge explained that the shooting was, in fact, a murder, and sentenced Wafer accordingly, telling him:
“ | I am confident that if you weren't going to prison today, you would never commit another crime...I fully recognize that you did not bring these circumstances to your doorstep. They arrived there. But once you did, you made the choices that brought you here today.[11][13] | ” |
After 17 years, Wafter is eligible for parole, though 32 years is his maximum sentence.[10]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Detroit News, "Best picks for Wayne Circuit judge," July 23, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, Unofficial 2012 General Election Results: 3rd Circuit Court
- ↑ Wayne County, 2012 Judicial Primary Results
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, "2012 Unofficial Michigan Primary Candidate Listing," July 31, 2012
- ↑ Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, Oakland County Judge, Unofficial Results
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, 2010 Candidates
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Michigan," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Daily, "Washtenaw County judge announces early retirement," May 1, 2014
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Associated Press, "Detroit-area man gets 17 years in porch shooting," September 3, 2014
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 NBC News, "Renisha McBride Killer Gets Minimum of 17 Years in Prison," September 3, 2014
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Detroit-area man gets 17 to 32 years for shooting visitor on porch," September 3, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan
State courts:
Michigan Supreme Court • Michigan Court of Appeals • Michigan Circuit Court • Michigan Court of Claims • Michigan District Courts • Michigan Municipal Courts • Michigan Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in Michigan • Michigan judicial elections • Judicial selection in Michigan