​EDITOR'S NOTE: 
Please check our website for ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPCOMING EVENTS, and other helpful resources.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1. President's Corner, by Kate Weaver (Oakland - Outgoing President) & Janet Mendez (Ingham - Incoming President)
2. Domestic Caselaw Update, by Ryan O'Neil (Oakland)
3. Juvenile Caselaw Update, by Kelly Ward (Van Buren)
4. Member Voir Dire - Katelyn Schaffer (Ottawa), by Agnes Jury (Mason)
5. Kudos, by Michelle Letourneau (Oakland)

Thank you to all who attended our annual meeting on May 17, 2024.  We had our elections and your new Board has begun their journey in supporting RAM for next two years.  Each Board member has numerous goals for this great organization and will work hard towards achieving those goals.   
 
Let us introduce you to the RAM 2024-2026 Board.  Each member brings key experience, network connections, and leadership that are critical to ensuring our organization remains at the forefront of information, guidance, training, and expertise, as is required in our important work.  Their service to this organization is so appreciated.
 
President
Janet Mendez works in Ingham County as a Domestic Referee. She has been on the RAM Board since 2017.  She served as the RAM Secretary from 2017-2022 and Vice President from 2022-2024.
 
Vice President
Tyler Martinez works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee. He has been on the RAM Board since 2021. He is co-chair of the Communications Committee and also the Editor of the Referees Quarterly.
 
Treasurer
Michelle Letourneau works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2016. She serves as chair of the Finance Committee. She also served as a Past President and was a former chair of the Membership Committee.
 
Secretary
Melissa Sytsma works in Cass County as a Domestic and Juvenile Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2019.  She has served in her current role since 2022. 
 
Members at Large
Ilyssa Cimmino works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2023. She is the chair of the Social Committee.
 
Dan Ferency works in Wayne County as a Domestic Referee. He has been on the RAM Board since 2024 and is on the Law and Court Rule Committee. 
 
Lisa Harris works in Oakland County as a Juvenile Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2022. She is chair of the Law and Court Rule Committee. 
 
Sahera Housey works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board for more than ten years. She is a Past President and current co-chair of the Conference Committee. 
 
Agnes Jury works in Mason County as a Domestic Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2022. She is on the Communications Committee.
 
Lynn Perry works in Kent County as a Domestic and Juvenile Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2016 and serves on the Child Welfare board.
 
Kate Weaver, Past President works in Oakland County as a Domestic Referee.  She has been on the RAM Board since 2015.  She is co-chair of the Conference Committee and formerly chair of the Law and Court Rules Committee.
 
Stephanie Witucki works in Wayne County as a Domestic Referee. She has been on the RAM Board since 2020 and serves as the chair of the Membership Committee.
 
Thank you again to those who are serving on the Board for the next two years.  We are excited to continue making RAM a vibrant and visible organization within the legal community! If any current RAM member is interested in serving on one of our many important committees, please reach out to a board member, and we will do our best to put you in touch with a committee best suited to your talents.

Custody
 
Mikhaylov v. Steele III, unpublished per curiam opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued February 15, 2024 (Docket No. 367325). Oakland County
 
Following their divorce, Mother and Father shared legal and physical custody of the minor children.  Mother relocated to Austin, Texas and the parties agreed that the minor children would remain in school in Bloomfield Hills from 2021 - 2023.  Mother would exercise parenting time in both Michigan and Texas.  The parties’ consent judgment further provided that, after the two (2) year period, the children would relocate to Texas and attend school there.  Father was also planning on moving to Texas.  The parties’ judgment, in incorporating these terms, included a provision which read as follows: 
 
"If [defendant] should petition this Court for the children to remain in Michigan following the 2022-2023 school year on the basis that they are adjusted and/or are doing well academically and/or emotionally, this shall not be considered a change in circumstance or proper cause.  Furthermore, if [defendant] should petition the Court to modify the parties’ agreement as previously stated, the Court should consider granting sole physical custody to [plaintiff] and otherwise enforcing this Agreement as written."
 
The judge who entered the consent judgment left the family bench and the case was subsequently assigned to his successor.  In 2023, Father sought to modify the judgment and for the children to continue to remain in Michigan and continue at their schools. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court granted Father’s motion.  Mother was to continue exercising parenting time as she had done from 2021-2023.  
 
The trial court denied Mother’s motion for a stay pending appeal.  The Court of Appeals also denied the stay, but the Michigan Supreme Court granted Mother’s request for a stay.  During the pendency of the appeal before the Michigan Court of Appeals, the children were residing in and attending school in Texas.  

DELINQUENCY
 
Unpublished
 
In re MJB, Minor, (March 14, 2024), COA No. 364707, Muskegon County Circuit Court, Family Division.  In this case, MJB pleaded guilty to CSC III, and both attorneys and MJB acknowledged that MJB would have to register under the Sex Offenders Registration Act (SORA). Pursuant to MCL 28.723(1), a person who is convicted of a listed offense after October 1, 1995, must register under SORA, if an order of disposition is open to the general public, the individual was 14 years of age or older at the time of the offense, and the order of disposition is for the commission of an offense that would classify the individual as a tier III offender. CSC III is a listed offense in MCL 28.722(i) and MCL 750.520d.  MJB later filed a motion to strike the SORA registration requirement.  The trial court denied MJB’s motion to strike the SORA registration requirement and MJB appealed.  It is important to note that MCL 712A.28(3) states that in cases involving juveniles, “[b]eginning January 1, 2021, … records of a case brought before the court are not open to the general public and are open only to persons having a legitimate interest.” 

For the spring newsletter, we meet RAM’s new member and Ottawa County Referee Katelyn A. Schaffer.
​
Katelyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Grand Valley State University. She began her legal education at Michigan State University College of Law. During her legal studies, Katelyn took an interest in the effectiveness of alternate dispute resolution. She began pursuing this line of work by receiving civil and domestic mediation certifications and mediating both civil and domestic cases through MSU’s Conflict Resolution Clinic in courts throughout East Lansing, Charlotte, Mason, and Holland.

Finding a passion for helping people through mediation, Katelyn took a nontraditional path by accepting a full-time position at Ottawa County Friend of the Court as a Friend of the Court Investigator while still attending law school. After graduating and passing the Bar Exam, Katelyn began representing clients as an associate attorney at Bank Rifkin (where she also clerked during law school). Her dedication to addressing complex family law issues now continues as a domestic relations Referee. To date, Katelyn’s proudest moment as a lawyer, and a very hard but rewarding experience, was successfully trying a contested change of custody/domicile motion with her former colleague Erica Brown. 

KUDOS to . . .

Janet Mendez, Ingham County.  Janet is our new RAM President!  We know that Janet will do a fantastic job at the helm of RAM!  Looking forward to great things!

Kate Weaver, Oakland County, Past President.  Kate received the 2024 ERICSA Award of Professional Excellence – Manager/Supervisor at the ERICSA conference held in Grand Rapids in April.  This award recognizes a manager or supervisor child support professional, who was recommended by another child support professional from the same jurisdiction, for having made significant contributions to the IV-D intergovernmental program and to the children and families it serves. This supervisor or manager has made worthy contributions that build a stronger intergovernmental child support community by facilitating communication, developing, and advocating effective policy, or delivering innovative professional training in order to enhance the well-being of families.

Kate was also awarded the Volunteer of Excellence Award from the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan for her role as troop leader and high award scout mentorship. 

Sahera Housey and Kate Weaver, Oakland County.  Sahera and Kate worked tirelessly so that we could enjoy a wonderful Annual Conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.  Thank you, Sahera and Kate!

Judge Lorie N. Savin, Oakland County, former Referee and Honorary Member.  Judge Savin was awarded the Jewish Bar Association Ruth Bader Ginsburg Champion of Justice Award on May 23, 2024.  This award recognizes the significant impact of a legal professional who has dedicated themself to the practice of law and improving the justice system, while exhibiting the highest level of professionalism and civility.

Judge Amanda Pollard,  Eaton County.  Amanda was appointed by Governor Whitmer to the Eaton County Probate Court. 

Lydia Fields and Kathy Oemke, Livingston County.  Kudos to everyone involved in the transition that occurred at the Livingston County Juvenile Court after the unexpected departure of the previous referee.  Thank you to everyone who kept the docket on track including retired referee Kathy who filled in until referee Lydia Fields transferred from Washtenaw County to head this the position.   We often forget how much our staff help us with keeping our dockets moving so that the public can be served.

Michelle Letourneau,  Oakland County.  As a stellar RAM Board member, Michelle, without hesitation, took over the Treasurer role and has since worked tirelessly to make sure all of our dues payments are processed.  Thank you for doing your part to keep our organization flourishing, Michelle!  Note:  Michelle is the author of the Kudos section but had no idea that this Kudos was going to be added!

Get out and vote!  Congratulations and good luck to the following referees who are working hard to administer justice to the families we serve while also running judicial campaigns.

• Mary Hood, Genesee County.  Running for Genesee County Circuit Court.
• Peter Kulas-Dominguez, Kent County.  Running for Kent County Probate Judge.
• Anna Rapa, Oceana County.  Running for Oceana County Probate Judge.
• Adrienne Scruggs, Washtenaw County.  Running for Wayne County Circuit Court Judge.
• Kelly Ward, Van Buren County. Running for St. Joseph County Probate Judge.