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Wendy Lynn Potts
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Wendy Lynn Potts is a judge of the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County, Michigan. She was appointed to this position by Governor Engler on December 11, 1997 to replace former Judge Francis X. O'Brien. She was elected in November of 1998 and was re-elected in 2000, 2006 and 2012. Her current six-year term ends on January 1, 2019. She also served as the Chief Judge Pro Tempore of this court in 2002 and 2003 and as Chief Judge from 2004 to 2009.[1][2]
Education
Potts received her B.S. degree from the University of Michigan in 1965 and her J.D. degree from the Wayne State University Law School in 1977.[1]
Career
Potts began her career as a law clerk for Judge William Beasley of the Michigan Court of Appeals. She then joined the law firm of Morris, Rowland, Prekel, Paquette, Keidan & White in 1980. In 1983, she moved to the firm of Clark Hill P.L.C. She also served as a Magistrate for the 48th Judicial District Court from 1984 to 1995. In March of 1997, she became a judge of the Oakland County Probate Court, where she served until her appointment to the circuit court in December of that year.[1][2]
Awards and associations
- Vice Chair, Michigan State Bar Foundation, 2009-present
- Trustee, Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, 2004 to 2009
- Chair,Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, 2006 to 2009
- Member. Michigan Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions, 2002 to 2006
- Member, ABA House of Delegates, 2000 to 2004
- Chancellor, American Inn of Court, 2002 to 2004
- Member, Board of Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County, 1997 to 2003
- Commissioner, State Bar of Michigan, 1990-2000
- Secretary, State Bar of Michigan, 1996-1997
- Children's Justice Committee, State Bar of Michigan, 1995
- President, Oakland County Bar Association, 1994-1995
- Co-chair, Governor's Task Force on Domestic Violence, 1994[2]
2012 election
Potts was one of seven candidates competing for five seats in the general election on November 6, 2012. She was re-elected with 17.59% of the vote.[3] [4]
- See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2012
Bar association ratings
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.
Potts was rated as Well Qualified.[5]
Wolverine Bar Association
Potts received a rating of Extremely Well Qualified from the Wolverine Bar Association.[6]
Endorsements
- The Detroit Free Press. To read the endorsement: Detroit Free Press, "Endorsements: Judge position in Wayne, Oakland counties," October 7, 2012.
Incumbents decry interest group advertisement
In October, the five incumbents running for re-election to the 6th Circuit Court united to condemn an ad opposing Judge McMillen, which was run by the Virginia-based group Americans for Job Security. In a meeting, Judge Warren said,
| “ | We felt that it was very important that to maintain the integrity and independence of the judiciary that we unite together and stand against attempts to subvert our independence and integrity of the court, and try to politicize what should be a nonpartisan, non-political position.[7][8] | ” |
In a statement on his website, challenger William Rollstin says,
| “ | Just as challengers to incumbents express their displeasure with the status quo, so too can citizens affect the process...It’s ironic that a slate of candidates, unified by incumbency and not by ideological or philosophical bonds, would whine about following the law as determined by judicial precedent passed by the highest court in the land [Citizen's United v. Federal Election Commission].[9][8] | ” |
See also
External links
- Michigan Trial Courts Directory: Oakland County
- Oakland County Bar Association, 2012 Judicial Candidate Questionnaire: Wendy Potts
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 State of Michigan, "Engler Appoints Potts to 6th Judicial Circuit Court," December 11, 1997
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Oakland County, "Hon. Wendy Potts"
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, Unofficial 2012 General Election Results: 6th Circuit Court
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, 2012 Unofficial Michigan Primary Candidate Listing
- ↑ Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Press Release: "WLAM Endorses, Rates Judicial Candidates"
- ↑ Wolverine Bar Association, 2012 WBA Judicial Qualifications Results
- ↑ The Oakland Press, "Oakland County judges object to outside money in their re-election campaign," October 7, 2012
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Rollstin for Judge, Statement on Outside Spending
