Judicial candidates line up for shot at the bench

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

EASTPOINTE — Several local attorneys have set their sights on Judge Norene Redmond’s judicial seat, but Redmond isn’t ready to hang up her robes and quit the bench.

Redmond filed an affidavit with the state in January to run for re-election to the 38th District Court seat. Since then, petitions have come from Mark Cardellio and Colleen Cohan in March, and Kathleen Galen, Carl Gerds III and Andrea Ferrara in April.

Candidates had until late last week, after press time, to withdraw their names.

Norene Redmond
Redmond has strong roots in that seat since she was the first district court judge when the court changed over from a municipal court, and she was a strong proponent of that change.

“I appreciate the support I’ve received from the community in the past and today.  I plan to run on my record, and hopefully, my opponents will run on their records,” she said. “I plan to continue to work to keep our neighborhoods and families safe and hear their cases in a prompt and fair manner.”

Redmond’s history on that bench hasn’t been without controversy. She was publicly censured by the State Supreme Court after complaints were made about her seemingly being too harsh with bond setting and sentencing.

Her same tenure has also led to some major changes and new programs.

“As the residents know, over the past four years, the 38th District Court has been a trend-setter in maximizing technology to enhance service and efficiencies,” she said. “Although the residents do not see it now, behind the scenes, courts and state agencies are working very hard in planning ‘the next generation’ of technologies that will help serve the public even better and more efficiently.”

Redmond plans to keep working on improvements to the court and its operations. She cited the court’s successful relationship with East Detroit Public Schools, the successes of the probation department, including volunteers, and innovative collection projects. She plans to increase community service efforts.

Colleen Cohan
Redmond faced off against challenger Colleen Cohan for the seat during the first district court election in 2003. Redmond was the sitting judge at the municipal court at the time.

Cohan, a Blue Cross attorney, was on the City Council when the decision to change to a district court was made. She voted against the conversion due to concerns at the time of the money she felt the city would have to front to make the changeover. 

Her decision to run again proves that she has a drive to sit on that bench. 

“I have wanted to be a judge since I was 16 years old,” she said. “I have a passion for justice and ensuring that people are treated fairly, but firmly when necessary.  I believe in a safe community and making sure that criminals know that they are not welcome in our great city of Eastpointe.

“I can say that I will perform my duties faithfully and impartially, and I will restore the relationship with the various law enforcement agencies working with the judicial system,” she added.

Teamwork and positive reinforcement are her work ethics, and she believes that cooperation between a number of agencies is key to the success of the judicial system. 

However, she realizes there are some obstacles that every court must deal with in everyday operations.

“As the state and city budgetary constraints continue to grow, maximizing efficiencies by reducing unnecessary expenditures is critical in maintaining the viability of the court,” Cohan said.

Carl Gerds III
Long-time resident and attorney in Eastpointe Carl Gerds III put his name in the hat as well, and he, too, is no stranger to running for a seat in that court. He ran for the seat before it was a district court.  

His law office has operated out of Eastpointe for three decades, and as a lifelong resident, he says he’s committed to the city.

“The people of our city want a change in the 38th District Court,” Gerds said. “Our citizens have lost confidence in the local judiciary due to the repeated occurrences of questionable decisions, which have brought unfavorable media attention. I will strive to preside over a fair but firm courtroom. 

“I will serve the community by treating those who appear in our court with respect, while preserving the safety of our community by punishing criminals with the sentences they deserve,” he said.

He also emphasized a need for teamwork among all involved in the judicial system and finding ways to boost employee morale.

He has much experience in the trial courts in the city and throughout the area, and mentioned his professional relationships with many other courts and law enforcement personnel.

“This will help me restore the Eastpointe District Court to a level of dignity and respect of which we can all be proud,” Gerds said.

Kathleen Galen
Kathleen Galen has practiced law for almost 20 years and has handled a variety of different types of cases. Even before becoming an attorney, Galen had her foot in the judicial arena as a legal secretary, paralegal and law clerk to a couple of the circuit court judges.

“I will work very hard to bring a level of courtesy, respect and fair dealing to all litigants that appear in the 38th District Court,” she said, “to treat all litigants, prosecutors, police officers with respect.”

“There has been a significant level of controversy at the courthouse,” she added.  “The public deserves a forum that they can respect and have confidence in and that will grant them equal access to justice.”

She is looking to see “drug court and dual diagnosis programs for non-violent offenders” in the court.

Mark Cardellio
Like Cohan, Mark Cardellio has had his eye on a judicial seat for some time.

“I decided to run for judge because I have wanted to be a judge since my second year in law school,” he said. “I clerked for a Wayne County circuit judge in the summer after my first year, and thought the whole process of getting two sides of an issue presented and trying to apply the correct rule of law, and at the same time try to dispense justice, was fascinating and rewarding.

“I liked that type of intellectual exercise better that that of trying to develop one side of an issue only, as a lawyer does,” he said.

Like the others, he said he is looking to “ensure litigants in the 38th District Court are treated respectfully and fairly.” He thinks respect is necessary in the justice system.

Cardellio also believes it’s important for judges to participate in public education activities, like visiting schools.

“I think the public in general is interested in the legal system, and I think children and young adults need to receive advice and direction from people in the real world,” he said. “Presumably, young people, and the public in general, would have respect for the office of judge, and perhaps that would enable me to make more of an impact on the listener.”

Andrea Ferrara
Andrea Ferrara ran for a Macomb County Circuit Court seat in 2006, but lost in the primary. Before that, the Michigan Supreme Court removed her from her seat in the Wayne County Circuit Court due to racial remarks made during a personal phone call in 1998.

However, she’s been working in her practice in Eastpointe for the past decade and says she’s become close to the community.

She has three decades of experience in the law, including more than a decade of those in the judiciary.

“The residents of Eastpointe deserve an experienced jurist who can dispense fair and equal justice under the law,” she said. “My primary goal would be the fair administration of justice and the efficient administration of the court.”

As part of being fair on the bench, Ferrara said she has extensive experience in knowing the difference between minor charges and serious charges, so she can set appropriate bonds.

“The constitutional right to reasonable bail is an important consideration in the daily operation of the court,” she said.

If elected, she plans to take a close look at court operations and make plans for improvement.

“I would of course review the daily operation of the civil and criminal divisions of the court, the operating budget of the court, and work with court staff to improve efficiency and better serve the public,” she said.    

She wants to look at setting up more educational programs to prevent repeat offenses, including anger management programs, and programs for chemical dependency and theft awareness.

You can reach Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1043.