Robert Coutts

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Robert Coutts

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 4, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Eastern Michigan University, 1984

Law

University of Toledo College of Law, 1988

Personal

Birthplace

Highland Park, Mich.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Lawyer

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Robert Coutts ran for election for judge of the Michigan 34th District Court. He lost in the primary on August 4, 2020.

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

Biography

Robert Coutts was born in Highland Park, Michigan. He received a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1984 and a J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1988. Coutts' professional experience includes being a trial lawyer, waiter, hi-lo driver, and roofer. He has been affiliated with the Belleville Rotary Club, the Charles B. Cozadd Foundation, Belleville Moose #934, and the Belleville Area Strawberry Festival.

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.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

• TRIAL LAWYER OVER 30 YEARS

• PRIVATE PRACTICE FOR 25 YEARS...5 STAR RATING AVVO.COM • FORMER ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY • EXTENSIVE TRIAL EXPERIENCE IN FEDERAL COURT/STATE DISTRICT, CIRCUIT COURTS/BANKRUPTCY/WORKERS' COMP/DIVORCE/ FELONY & MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL JURY TRIALS • FORMER DISTRICT & CIRCUIT COURT CASE EVALUATOR INTEGRITY • UNBLEMISHED PROFESSIONAL CAREER SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY • FORMER VAN BUREN PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER • MEMBER OF BELLEVILLE ROTARY CLUB FOR 19 YRS; 2 TIME PAST PRESIDENT OF BELLEVILLE ROTARY • CHARLES B. COZADD FOUNDATION (ROTARY CLUB) BOARD OF DIRECTOR FOR OVER 10 YEARS; • BELLEVILLE ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE • ADMINISTRATOR OF BELLEVILLE MOOSE (2010 - 2020); A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN, SENIOR CITIZENS & VETERANS • LEGAL COUNSEL TO BELLEVILLE AREA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS

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?

• EXPERIENCE THAT MATTERS
• INTEGRITY
• HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Communication: With the proliferation of the Internet and its various forms of instant communication, involvement on issues have become ever more democratized. Concerned citizens may access many of the same data sources as legislators and lobbyists, and build grassroots movements for or against any issue about which they feel strongly. Where once the debate over public policy was restricted, it is now possible for virtually anyone with an opinion to weigh in and help shape the result.
Education: Former school board member and on a Rotary Scholarship committee

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

1. MY FATHER, ROBERT J. COUTTS

HE WAS A POLICE OFFICER. I FEEL HE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

2. JUDGE CHARLES BOKOS (RETIRED) HE WAS MY FIRST MENTOR OUT OF LAW SCHOOL. I LEARNED A LOT FROM JUDGE BOKOS. I ALWAYS THINK AND ASK MYSELF, "HOW WOULD CHUCK HANDLE THIS?" WHEN DEALING WITH AN ISSUE.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Public Trust in Business
by Jared D. Harris

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

I am an excellent listener.
In order to understand people and their case, you have to listen to what they are telling you.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to have people feel they received a fair hearing in my court regardless of the outcome.

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

1967 DETROIT RIOT
I WAS 5 YEARS OLD

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

NEWSPAPER DELIVERY

APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS
1974 - 1976

12 years old

What is your favorite book? Why?

Anatomy of a Murder

by: (under the pen name of Robert Traver) John D. Voelker, Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court

It was about a murder in the Upper Penisula and subsequent trial. After reading the book my freshman year in college, I started to think about law school and being a lawyer.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Rick Blaine, owner of Rick's American Cafe' in Casablanca

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

n/a
I have an eclectic taste in music from Classic Rock, symphony orchestra, jazz, R & B, opera, modern country, just to name a few.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Children...
Grandchildren, on the other hand, have been a pure joy

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

Normative jurisprudence involves normative, evaluative, and otherwise prescriptive questions about the law. For example, what is the goal or purpose of law? What moral or political theories provide a foundation for the law?

Three approaches have been influential in contemporary moral and political philosophy, and these approaches are reflected in normative theories of law:
1. Utilitarianism is the view that laws should be crafted so as to produce the best consequences. In contemporary legal theory, the utilitarian approach is frequently championed by scholars who work in the law and economics tradition.
2. Deontology is the view that laws should reflect our obligation to preserve the autonomy and rights of others.

3. Aretaic moral theories such as contemporary virtue ethics emphasize the role of character in morality. Virtue jurisprudence is the view that the laws should promote the development of virtuous character by citizens.

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

HON. KAYE TERTZAG, WAYNE COUNTY 3rd CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE
HON. CHARLES BOKOS, 18TH DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

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

ABSOLUTELY, YOU MUST PUT YOUR SELF IN THE SHOES OF THE PEOPLE STANDING BEFORE YOU. MY GOAL IS TO TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY I WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.

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

YES, DETROIT BAR ASSOCIATION

2004 "WELL QUALIFIED"

2020 TBA

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

THE 34TH DISTRICT COURT NEEDS A JUDGE WITH INTEGRITY AND ONE WHO WILL RESTORE THE PUBLIC TRUST.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

I BELIEVE IT BENEFICIAL FOR A JUDGE TO HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE TO DRAW FROM, WHETHER ITS IN THE COURTROOM, AREAS OF THE LAW, CLASSROOM, OR EVEN POLITICS.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

Bond Reform

The purposes of allowing a defendant to post a bond pending trial in a criminal case is to avoid inflicting punishment upon an innocent person (who may be acquitted at trial) and to encourage the unhampered preparation of their defense. The amount of bond is generally set in relation to the gravity of the offense charged and the likelihood of flight.

Too many times, defendants sit in jail awaiting trial because they cannot afford the bond.

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

Technology: In some cases, the court can eliminate parties appearing in court, waiting for their case to be heard. With the internet, the court may have court dates by appointment. The parties/attorneys may log in from their smart phones and join in. The parties would not miss work, less travel time and more efficient all the way around.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

MY ONLY INTEREST IS THE 34TH DISTRICT COURT AND RESTORING THE PUBLIC TRUST.

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.

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Candidate

Michigan 34th District Court

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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