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Deborah Adams
Deborah Ross Adams was a judge for the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County, Michigan. She was appointed to the court by former Governor Jennifer Granholm in April 2006 to replace former Judge William Cahalan.[1][2] The following November, she was elected to a full six-year term.[3] On June 19, 2013, Adams was removed from office for judicial misconduct by order of the Michigan Supreme Court.[4] See: In the news section below.
Education
Adams received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1975 and her J.D. degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1979.[1]
Career
Adams worked as senior assistant corporation counsel for the Detroit Law Department from 1983 to 1994. She then became a magistrate for the 36th Judicial District Court. Adams was appointed to serve as a judge on that court on October 6, 1997. She was appointed to the 3rd Circuit Court bench in 2006.[1]
Elections
2012
Adams was one of 17 candidates competing for 16 seats on the 3rd Circuit Court. Only one candidate was not an incumbent. Adams was re-elected with 6.24 percent of the vote.[5][6]
- See also: Michigan judicial elections, 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.
Adams was rated as Qualified.[7]
Noteworthy events
Misconduct charges filed for forgery and lying under oath (2012)
In April 2012, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission charged Judge Adams with misconduct. Adams was accused of forging the signature of her own lawyer during divorce proceedings and lying to Judge Mary Ellen Brennan. The Michigan Supreme Court appointed retired Judge Donald Miller to preside over the investigation.[8]
Brian Einhorn, attorney for Adams, said that the entire episode resulted from a misunderstanding. He said that Adams thought she had permission to sign her attorney's name on a document, and that she did not lie to Brennan.[9]
On October 9, 2012, Donald Miller reported his findings:
| “ | Based upon my assessment of the veracity of the witnesses, I find that. . .(Ross Adams) did in fact violate (state law) by making false statements under oath.[10][11] | ” |
The Michigan Supreme Court issued its final opinion, to remove Adams from the bench, on June 19, 2013.[4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan, "2006 Annual Report," accessed November 26, 2014 (Scroll to p.3)
- ↑ Public Affairs Associates, "Ross Adams appointed to Wayne Circuit Court"
- ↑ List of Michigan Circuit Courts
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Michigan Supreme Court, "In re Adams," June 19, 2013
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, "Official 2012 General Election Results: 3rd Circuit Court," accessed November 26, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, "2012 Unofficial Michigan Primary Candidate Listing," July 31, 2012
- ↑ Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, "Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee," accessed November 26, 2014
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Retired Macomb judge to oversee misconduct charges against Wayne judge Deborah Ross Adams," April 26, 2012
- ↑ The Detroit Free Press, "Wayne County judge accused of lying, forgery is charged with misconduct," April 20, 2012
- ↑ World News, "Wayne Co. judge allegedly lied under oath," accessed October 27, 2015
- ↑ 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
