2013 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
|
|
|
The Referees Association of Michigan, a special purpose Bar Association consisting of Family Court Attorney Referees, recently honored two outstanding women jurists at its 29th Annual Conference in Petoskey. Newly elected Tuscola County Probate Court Judge, The Honorable Nancy Thane, and retiring Attorney/Referee Kathy Oemke of Livingston County, were presented with special awards for the work each has done towards achieving the organization’s goal of “Compassionate Justice Helping Children.”
Judge Thane, a former Referee and longtime member of The Referees Association, was elected to the bench in November of 2012. A Lansing native, Judge Thane graduated from MSU and Cooley Law School and was hired as an Assistant Prosecutor in Tuscola County in 1987. Recognizing her talent in the area of Family Law, she was quickly appointed as the Friend of the Court Referee in 1988. Judge Thane served as the FOC Referee until her appointment as FOC director in May 2012. A longtime member of RAM, Judge Thane served on the Executive Board from 2005 until 2009 and was the organization’s recording secretary.
Kathy Oemke, a 1980 graduate of the former Detroit College of Law, served as a Livingston County Referee for over 15 years before her recent retirement. Oemke has held leadership positions both in the State Bar and in the Referees Association. She was elected to the State Bar Representative Assembly and served for 7 years. After several years on the Board of Directors, Oemke was elected President of RAM in 2007. In addition to her work in the legal profession, Oemke has been on the boards of directors of organizations such as the Red Cross, the Women’s Resource Center and the Run for Justice.
Judge Thane, a former Referee and longtime member of The Referees Association, was elected to the bench in November of 2012. A Lansing native, Judge Thane graduated from MSU and Cooley Law School and was hired as an Assistant Prosecutor in Tuscola County in 1987. Recognizing her talent in the area of Family Law, she was quickly appointed as the Friend of the Court Referee in 1988. Judge Thane served as the FOC Referee until her appointment as FOC director in May 2012. A longtime member of RAM, Judge Thane served on the Executive Board from 2005 until 2009 and was the organization’s recording secretary.
Kathy Oemke, a 1980 graduate of the former Detroit College of Law, served as a Livingston County Referee for over 15 years before her recent retirement. Oemke has held leadership positions both in the State Bar and in the Referees Association. She was elected to the State Bar Representative Assembly and served for 7 years. After several years on the Board of Directors, Oemke was elected President of RAM in 2007. In addition to her work in the legal profession, Oemke has been on the boards of directors of organizations such as the Red Cross, the Women’s Resource Center and the Run for Justice.
2013 AWARD WINNERS
The Referees Association of Michigan at the 29th Annual Conference bestowed the following additional awards:
- Lorie Savin of Oakland County – President’s Award for Service to RAM
- Kristi Drake of Lenawee County – Service to the Board
- Jen Sikora of Oakland, California – Service to RAM
- Sahera Housey of Oakland County – Active Member Award
- Mark Sherbow of Oakland County – Outstanding Executive Award
- Ed Messing of St.Clair County – Active Member Award
|
|
|
|
|
