Lisa Martin

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Lisa Martin

Nonpartisan

Michigan 34th District Court

Tenure

2021 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

4

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Harvard University, 1994

Law

University of Michigan Law School, 1997

Personal

Birthplace

Detroit, Mich.

Religion

Methodist

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Lisa Martin is a judge of the Michigan 34th District Court. She assumed office on January 1, 2021. Her current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Martin ran for election for judge of the Michigan 34th District Court. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Martin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Martin was a 2014 candidate for the 34th Judicial District Court in Michigan. She was defeated in the general election on November 4, 2014.

Biography

Martin was born in Detroit, Michigan. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Harvard University in 1994 and a J.D. degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1997. Her career experience includes working as an attorney magistrate at the 34th District Court and as an attorney with the law firm Mary Jane M. Elliott, P.C. In addition to her work in private practice, she worked for the Legal Aid and Defenders’ Association of Detroit for 2 years, and began her legal career as a law clerk.

Martin has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• Healthy Kidz, Inc.
• Michigan Area Loan Fund
• Operation Refuge
• United Methodist Union of Greater Detroit
• Joy-Southfield, C.D.C., board member
• Wolverine Bar Association, member
• Black Women Lawyers of Michigan, member
• NAACP, member
• Romulus Goodfellows, member
• State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness and Unauthorized Practice of Law Committees, member
• Michigan Creditors’ Bar Association, member

Elections

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Wayne County, Michigan (2020)

General election

General election for Michigan 34th District Court

Lisa Martin defeated Alexandria Taylor in the general election for Michigan 34th District Court on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Martin (Nonpartisan)	51.8	16,331
		Alexandria Taylor (Nonpartisan)	46.8	14,733
		Other/Write-in votes	1.4	434

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 31,498
= 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.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Michigan 34th District Court

Lisa Martin and Alexandria Taylor defeated incumbent David M. Parrott, Robert Coutts, and John Day in the primary for Michigan 34th District Court on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Martin (Nonpartisan)	27.3	4,202
✔		Alexandria Taylor (Nonpartisan)	24.7	3,795
		David M. Parrott (Nonpartisan)	22.3	3,430
		Robert Coutts (Nonpartisan)	13.9	2,144
	Submit photo	John Day (Nonpartisan)	11.5	1,765
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	51

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,387 (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.

2014

See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2014
Martin ran for election to the 34th Judicial District Court.
Primary: She was successful in the primary on August 5, 2014, receiving 31.1 percent of the vote. She competed against David M. Parrott and Charles Septowski.
General: She was defeated in the general election on November 4, 2014, after receiving 42.1 percent of the vote. She competed against David M. Parrott.  

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Lisa Martin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Martin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an attorney of 21 years who wants to be the next judge in the 34th District Court.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I believe that every person that comes before the court should have equal access to our justice system.
• I believe that every person that comes before the court should have the opportunity to stand before a judge who is fair and impartial.
• I have the experience and temperament necessary to provide a courtroom where every person is treated with courtesy and respect.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about improving access to the courts for all people for all types of cases. I would like to see the state court system be a place where residents receive the information and help that they need when they need it.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I think that my work ethic, commitment to continuing education and spirit of community involvement will make me a successful officeholder.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that I remember is the 1981 assassination attempt on then President Ronald Reagan. I would have been 8 years old at the time and sitting in Room 5 at Pyramid Elementary School. The event is memorable because our principal, Mr. Perkins, came over the intercom and made the announcement that we would have a moment of silence. Prior to that day, I do not recall ever hearing his voice sound so tense or strained and the fact that all class work stopped for a period of time marked that announcement as life changing.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is "To Kill a Mockingbird" because of its dual story lines of someone unexpectedly watching over you (Boo Radley and his interactions with Scout) and the character shown in undertaking a difficult and unpopular task (Atticus Finch's representation of Tom Robinson).

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

That last song that got stuck in my head was "Rise Up" by Andra Day.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

I admire Judge David Robinson, Jr. of 36th District Court. Judge Robinson is best described as authoritative and unflappable. Observing him on the bench over the span of 17 years, I always observed Judge Robinson to have a firm command of his courtroom, the facts and law. His demeanor from the first step to the bench to the end of his docket is consistent and dependable. Regardless of the nature of the case that brought me to his courtroom, I knew that Judge Robinson would start promptly, move efficiently and that every person at the podium would be treated with respect.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

I believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge as our court system is supposed to be one of seeking recovery in a civil matter or accepting the consequences in a criminal matter. No matter the type of case that brought a resident to court, that person would want a judge who would be willing to "step into their shoes" and make an effort to understand the decision making that led that resident to come before the court.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

I have never been rated by a Bar Association.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I am running for a seat in the 34th District Court because I want to be of service in the community in which I live. Michigan's district courts are considered the "people's court," the court where a resident is most likely to have an interaction with the court system. The types of matters that come into district court either involve people who live in the community or have engaged in some activity that impacts the community. Residents who appear in district court are entitled to a judge who is fair and impartial - I am that person. Residents are entitled to a judge who treats everyone with respect and begins court promptly - I am that person. Most importantly, residents are entitled to a judge who wants to do the work of the people - I am that person. I am running for this particular seat because after 21 years as an attorney, appearing in the 34th District Court regularly during this 21 years and working there for a period, I am uniquely situated to integrate into the court family on day one and get down to doing the work of the people.

What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?

The greatest opportunity for the legal system in Michigan is the permanent adoption of some of the procedural novelties implemented during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Since March 2020, the Michigan Supreme Court has issued Administrative Orders that have expanded the use of technology in the courtroom, allowing for remote hearings for judges and parties and scheduling hearing times that provided parties with a more realistic time by which there matters would start. COVID-19 has caused the courts in Michigan to re-think what access to the court really entails and implement ways to more efficiently move people through the court process.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2020 Elections

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Candidate

Michigan 34th District Court

Website

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Footnotes

Michigan courts

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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