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Photo submitted by Lisa Martin

Meet the candidates column  
The Huron Hub 
Posted Oct. 15, 2020

Editor’s note: As the 2020 election draws near, the residents in Huron Township would like to hear more about each candidate that is running for office or reelection.

Recently, every person running on the Huron Township ballot was invited to use The Huron Hub as a platform to get their voice heard. All letters in this column are submitted by the candidates themselves and are not edited by Huron Hub staff. Letters are posted in the order they are received, and candidates had until Oct. 12 to submit their letters. Letters will not be accepted from the candidates after Oct. 12. 

Readers can access all candidate letters on a special section of HuronHub.com HERE. 

The following letter was submitted by Lisa Martin:

My name is Lisa Martin and I am a candidate for 34^th District Court Judge.  The 34^th District Court serves Belleville, Huron Township, Romulus, Sumpter and Van Buren Township.  I am running to be the next 34^th District Court Judge because I believe that every person who comes before the court should have equal access to our justice system.

I grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cass Technical High School before attending Harvard University, where I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology. After college graduation, I returned to Michigan to attend the University of Michigan Law School, where I received my Juris Doctor.  My first job after law school found me working as a law clerk for Judge John F. Foley in the Kalamazoo County Circuit Court where I prepared Judge Foley’s sentencing memorandums in criminal cases and provided research briefs on issues in civil cases.  While working in Kalamazoo, I received my admissions to the State Bar of Michigan and the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Michigan.  I next worked for the Legal Aid and Defenders Association of Detroit, representing indigent clients in hearings with the Social Security Administration and the State of Michigan and in all phases of civil cases in the district courts in Wayne County.  From 2001 until 2018, I worked at four different law firms where I made regular appearances in district courts throughout the state, representing business clients in litigation files from the filing of cases through closing of the matter.  Over this period of time, my clients included regional medical centers, property owners, national banks, car finance companies and attorneys’ offices.  From June 2018 through February 2020, I served as the appointed Attorney Magistrate of the 34^th District Court where my duties included conducting arraignments in misdemeanor and felony cases, conducting in-house mediations in civil files and hearing and issuing rulings in small claims cases and civil infraction cases. In addition to being a candidate, I am a full-time staff attorney with Lakeshore Legal Aid where I am representing tenants in district court.

I currently volunteer with Healthy Kidz, Inc. which operates a recreation center in Detroit, Operation Refuge which operates a client-choice food pantry and a Summer STEM program for young girls, State Bar of Michigan Character & Fitness Committee, State Bar of Michigan Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee and the United Methodist Union of Greater Detroit.

I am married to Kevin Martin, who is a native of Romulus, a Navy veteran, a 43 year employee of General Motors and a trustee in Van Buren Township.

I offer my thanks to The Huron Hub for this opportunity to reach the residents of Huron Township, its readers and social media followers. I hope that this brief statement and the information at www.lisamartinforjudge.com demonstrate that I have the experience and temperament to fulfill every requirement to serve the community as a 34^th District Court Judge and I ask for your support and vote in the November 3, 2020 General Election.

Sincerely,

Lisa Martin