2020 Judicial Candidate Ratings
The Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association has rated judicial candidates for contested elections in the courts of Wayne County for the 2020 election cycle. The Committee is comprised of 30 attorneys from the Detroit Metropolitan area and evaluates the fitness of each candidate for judicial office based upon the candidate’s legal ability (scholarship, analysis, judgment, clarity of expression), trial experience, integrity, honesty, judicial temperament, and reputation, without regard to party affiliation, race or creed. Ratings are given after review of the candidate’s completed questionnaire and/or an in-person interview conducted with an Interview Panel of the Committee. The ratings refer only to a candidate’s qualifications for the position of judge in the court that the candidate is seeking, and do not in any way refer to a candidate’s qualifications as a practicing attorney. The ratings reflect the collective opinion of the Committee and not the Detroit Bar Association as a whole. The ratings for individual candidates are set forth below.
The Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee has four categories of ratings: Outstanding, Well Qualified, Qualified, Not Qualified or No Rating. Ratings were provided only in contested races.
Visit the Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee page for descriptions of each rating.
| Candidate Name | Candidate Rating |
| 3RD CIRCUIT JUDGE OF CIRCUIT COURT NON-INCUMBENT 6 YEAR TERM (2) POSITIONS |
|
| Chandra W. Baker | Outstanding |
| Deana Beard | Not Qualified |
| Dennis Timothy Donahue | No Rating |
| Nicholas John Hathaway | Qualified |
| Shakira Lynn Hawkins | No Rating |
| Mary Beth Kelly | Outstanding |
| Frank Simone | Well Qualified |
| 28TH DISTRICT JUDGE OF DISTRICT COURT NON-INCUMBENT 6 YEAR TERM (1) POSITION |
|
| John Graziani | Qualified |
| Elisabeth Mullins | Well Qualified |
| 32A DISTRICT JUDGE OF DISTRICT COURT INCUMBENT 6 YEAR TERM (1) POSITION |
|
| Rebekah Coleman | Well Qualified |
| Daniel S. Palmer* | Outstanding |
| 34TH DISTRICT JUDGE OF DISTRICT COURT INCUMBENT 6 YEAR TERM (1) POSITION |
|
| Robert Coutts | Not Qualified |
| David M. Parrott* | Not Qualified |
| John Day | Qualified |
| Lisa Martin | Well Qualified |
| Alexandria Taylor | Well Qualified |
|
*ITALIC indicates incumbent |
|
If you have any questions about this initiative please contact Julie Van Hove at jvanhove@detroitlawyer.org.