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Deborah Servitto
Deborah Servitto was a judge of the Michigan 2nd District Court of Appeals. She assumed office on March 23, 2006. She left office on August 1, 2024.
Servitto ran for re-election for judge of the Michigan 2nd District Court of Appeals. She won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
On November 13, 2013, Servitto was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve on the newly-created Michigan Court of Claims. This role was in addition to her appellate court duties. Her term on the Court of Claims ended on May 1, 2015.[3]
Education
Servitto received her B.A. in political science from Oakland University in 1978 and her J.D. from the Detroit College of Law in 1982.[2]
Career
- 2006-2024: Judge, Michigan Second District Court of Appeals
- 2013-2015: Judge, Michigan Court of Claims
- 1990-2006: Judge, Macomb Circuit Court
- 1986-1990: Judge, 37th District Court
- 1982-1986: Assistant city attorney, Warren, Mich.[2][3]
Awards and associations
Awards
- 2006: Community Leader Award from the Warren Family YMCA
- 2001: Conflict Resolution Advocacy Award from the Macomb County Resolution Center
- 1996: Columbus Day Committee Woman of the Year
- 1991: Named the March of Dimes Alexander Macomb Citizen of the Year[4]
Associations
- Founding director, Care House, which provides for young victims of sexual and physical abuse[2]
Elections
2024
Deborah Servitto did not file to run for re-election.
2018
General election
General election for Michigan 2nd District Court of Appeals (3 seats)
Incumbent Kathleen Jansen, incumbent Elizabeth L. Gleicher, and incumbent Deborah Servitto won election in the general election for Michigan 2nd District Court of Appeals on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kathleen Jansen (Nonpartisan) | 34.2 | 592,091 | |
| ✔ | Elizabeth L. Gleicher (Nonpartisan) | 33.0 | 570,856 | |
| ✔ | Deborah Servitto (Nonpartisan) | 32.8 | 566,771 | |
| Total votes: 1,729,718 | |||
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Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 28 judges of the Michigan Court of Appeals are chosen in nonpartisan elections and must face re-election if they wish to continue serving. A full term on the court is six years. Candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions.[5] The process for filling vacancies on the appeals court is identical to that used by the supreme court. With the assistance of the judicial qualifications committee, the governor names a replacement to serve until the next general election.[5]
Qualifications
To be elected to the court, a judge must:
- 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;
- be under the age of 70.[5]
Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term.[6]
Selection of the chief judge
The chief judge of the appeals court is selected by supreme court appointment to terms lasting two years.[5]
2012
Servitto was re-elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals after running unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012.[7][8]
- See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2012
Noteworthy cases
Michigan imposes $36 million fine (2002)
In 2002 Judge Servitto issued a final order on an illegal dumping case, ruling in favor of the state of Michigan. In that ruling, she issued each defendant a $250,000 fine for each state law violation at each site.
| “ | The court order assesses fines of more than $36 million against 16 individuals and businesses for violating the state’s environmental laws at nine different sites in Wayne, Oakland, and Barry Counties. The state alleged that the defendants illegally dumped insulation, roofing materials, and other construction debris at sites they operated as unlicensed solid waste disposal facilities beginning as early as 1992. A six-week trial in the spring of 2001 found the defendants liable for operating the illegal dumping facilities and ordered them to clean up the sites. After the defendants failed to comply, Granholm asked the court to enter a final judgment.[9][10] | ” |
| —Judge Servitto | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Michigan.gov, "Granholm Appoints Deborah Servitto Judge of 2nd District Court of Appeals," March 14, 2006
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Michigan Courts, "Second District Judges," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Michigan Courts, "Order: Assignment of Judges to the Court of Claims," November 13, 2013
- ↑ Macomb County Bar Association, "Bar Brief," October 2008
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Michigan," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Daily, "Washtenaw County judge announces early retirement," May 1, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "Official Election Results: 1st District Court of Appeals Judge," January 4, 2013
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2012 Official Michigan Primary Candidate Listing," July 31, 2012
- ↑ Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration News, "Michigan Imposes $36 Million Environmental Fine," June 6, 2002
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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| Current |
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| Former | Clifford Taylor (Michigan) • Michael Cavanagh • Elizabeth Weaver • Marilyn Kelly • Maura Corrigan • Stephen Markman • Richard Bandstra • Helene White • Kurtis Wilder • Brian Zahra • Pat Donofrio • E. Thomas Fitzgerald (Michigan) • Michael Smolenski • Alton Davis • William Whitbeck • Bill Schuette (Michigan) • Robert P. Young Jr. • | ||
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
