KUDOS to . . .

Congratulations to the following Referees who were successful in their November 2024 elections: 

• Judge Mary Hood, Genesee County Circuit Court, 7th Circuit, Family Division.  Judge Hood served as a Juvenile Referee in Genesee County from 2002 until taking the bench in January 2025. 
• Judge Adrienne Scruggs, Wayne County Circuit Court, 3rd Circuit, Family Division – Juvenile.  Judge Scruggs began serving Michigan families as a Friend of the Court Attorney in Wayne County.  In October 2021 she accepted a position as a Domestic Referee at the Washtenaw County Friend of the Court where she served until taking the bench in January 2025.  

Kudos to the following Referees/Judges-elect who succeeded in judicial races on November 5th:

• Kim Gildner (Alpena/Montmorency) - Elected to Presque Isle Probate Court
• Mary Hood (Genesee) - Elected to Genesee County Circuit Court
• Adrienne Scruggs (Washtenaw) - Elected to Wayne County Circuit Court

And to those Referees who fell short on election night, you are all truly inspirational and also deserving of Kudos!  Thank you all for your continued dedication to Michigan families! 

​Kudos to Brian Nicholas (Macomb) for his appointment as the new Macomb County Friend of the Court Administrator!  Prior to his appointment, Brian served as the Chief Referee for the Friend of the Court since 2014 and as a Macomb County Domestic Referee since 2007.  Brian has been with the Macomb County Friend of the Court since 2002.
 
Kudos to Erin Magley (Ottawa) and Kelly Ward (Van Buren), for being willing to participate in the workgroup for the SCAO Weighted Case Study!    Thank you to Erin for her diligence in helping her fellow Referees prepare for the upcoming NCSC weighted caseload study and for answering questions in anticipation of the work study.
 
Kudos to Lisa Harris (Oakland) and Holly Spoelman (Muskegon), for participating in the Juvenile Justice Partnership Committee.  Thank you, Holly, for keeping RAM updated on the status of the Committee, for participating in the training workgroup, and for your involvement.

Kudos to Sahera Housey (Oakland), Tyler Martinez (Oakland), Jolene Clearwater (Allegan), and Dale Murney (Berrien) for presenting at the August 13 & 14, 2024 MJI New Family Division Referee Seminar.

Kudos to Rebecca Decoster (Oakland) and Tyler Martinez (Oakland) for presenting at MJI’s “What Jurists Look for in Custody and Parenting Time Reports” on August 22, 2024.

Kudos to Kelly Chard (Oakland) for her service and dedication to Oakland County families as she prepares for her upcoming retirement.

Kudos to Shannon Haneline (Oakland) and KC Mayer (Oakland) for their willingness to speak at the 2024 MCSF Boyne Conference about the UCCJEA.
 
Kudos to Kate Weaver (Oakland) for her involvement in several committees and organizations!  Kate was a featured speaker for the ERICSA Sovereign Citizens and Bench Panel, the NCSEA Custody and Parenting Time in IV-D Cases Training, and the MJI Sovereign Citizens Training.  Kate is also the Author of LexisNexis’s Michigan Family Law Paternity Chapter.  Way to go, Kate!  Thank you for your dedication to your fellow Referees and to Michigan families.

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.

KUDOS to . . .
​
AMANDA KOLE (Macomb) on her retirement after almost 24 years of service to the Macomb County community.  Amanda became a Referee in 2005 and has been the most senior RAM board member for some time.  She has been instrumental in shaping RAM into the organization it is today.  She served as the President of RAM from 2014-2016 and has been the Treasurer for more years than I can count.  We have always been able to rely on Amanda to cite the RAM by-laws on request and to educate the board with her institutional knowledge.  Thank you for your service, Amanda, and best of luck to you in your retirement and in your new endeavor as a full-time professor at Macomb Community College!

KATE WEAVER and SAHERA HOUSEY (Oakland) for their hard work on and dedication to the RAM Conference Committee.  Their efforts to bring our membership high-quality presenters on relevant topics have resulted in RAM being approved as an accredited Mandatory Continuing Judicial Education provider for a 3-year term effective December 7, 2023, by The Michigan Judicial Education Board.  Thank you, Sahera and Kate, for your dedication to RAM and the families we serve!

SAHERA HOUSEY (Oakland) on being reappointed to the Michigan Judicial Education Board for a new 3-year term. 

ILYSSA CIMMINO (Oakland) and LYDIA FIELDS (Lenawee) on being appointed to the State Bar of Michigan Ethics Committee for a 3-year term.

MICHELLE LETOURNEAU (Oakland) on being appointed to the SCAO Family Court Plans workgroup.

ERIN MAGLEY (Ottawa) and KELLY WARD (Van Buren) on being appointed to represent RAM on the Workload Assessment Committee.  They will be advising the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) as they collaborate to develop judicial workload assessments in 2024.

AMANDA POLLARD (Eaton) on being appointed by Governor Whitmer as Probate Court Judge in Eaton County.
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Congratulations, everyone!  Thank you for your commitment to our profession and the families we serve!