Gregory Bill
Gregory Bill was a judge of the Michigan 3rd Circuit Court. He left office on October 26, 2023.
Bill ran for re-election for judge of the Michigan 3rd Circuit Court. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Education
Bill received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law.[1]
Career
- 2000-present: Judge, 3rd Circuit Court
- 1995-2000: Sole practitioner
- 1993-1994: Judge, Michigan Twentieth Judicial District Court
- 1992-1993: Magistrate, Michigan Twentieth Judicial District Court
- 1982-1992: Sole practitioner[1]
Elections
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) | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2012
Bill was one of 17 candidates competing for 16 seats on the 3rd Circuit Court. Only one candidate was a non-incumbent. Bill was re-elected with 5.92 percent of the vote.[2] [3]
- See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2012
Bar association ratings
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
The DMBA rated candidates running for judicial office in 2012. Candidates are given one of five ratings: Outstanding, Well Qualified, Qualified, Not Qualified or No Rating.
Bill was rated as Well Qualified.[4]
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
The WLAM rated candidates running for judicial office with one of four ratings: Outstanding, Well Qualified, Qualified or No Rating.
Bill was rated as Outstanding.[5]
Wolverine Bar Association
Bill received a rating of Extremely Well Qualified from the Wolverine Bar Association.[6]
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.[7] Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term.[8]
Selection of the chief judge
The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the state supreme court to two-year terms.[7]
Qualifications
To be elected to either of these courts, a judge must:[7]
- 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.
Noteworthy cases
Murder in the name of religion
On December 18, 2005, Arthur Shelton appeared before Judge Gregory Bill to face charges of murder in the first degree, stating he "was not sorry for a second that he killed Hooper." Further, "In the eyes of the law I was wrong and will probably spend the rest of my life in prison, but in the eyes of God I have killed an evil person--the devil himself." According to a 911 dispatcher, Shelton called saying that he shot "the devil himself" because "he didn't believe in God." Shelton often repeated "I'm a Christian and an Eagle Scout and I wouldn't lie," and "don't worry about me, I'm fine, but he's the devil." Judge Bill found Shelton guilty of second degree murder with mental illness.[9]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Gregory Dean Bill biography (dead link)
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, "Official 2012 General Election Results: 3rd Circuit Court," January 4, 2013
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, "2012 Unofficial Michigan Primary Candidate Listing," July 31, 2012
- ↑ Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee
- ↑ Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Press Release: "WLAM Endorses, Rates Judicial Candidates"
- ↑ Wolverine Bar Association, 2012 WBA Judicial Qualifications Results
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Michigan," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Daily, "Washtenaw County judge announces early retirement," May 1, 2014
- ↑ Murder committed in name of religion
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
