One of the purposes of this program is to help citizens better understand the institutions that shape our civic life. At the local level, few institutions matter more than the district court. In the communities of Farmington and Farmington Hills, that responsibility belongs to the 47th District Court, where residents often encounter the justice system for the first time.
In a recent conversation on Seeing Clearly with T.R. Carr, I spoke with Michael Sawicky, a longtime magistrate in the 47th District Court and a candidate for judge. Our discussion focused on a simple question voters often ask: what qualities actually matter in a judge?
“I’ve been practicing law now for going on 31 years. I’ve been on the front lines of the criminal justice system.”
Sawicky described a career that includes work as an assistant prosecutor, service as a defense attorney, and nearly two decades as a magistrate. Those roles place a lawyer in very different positions within the courtroom, something he believes has shaped his understanding of fairness and due process.
But experience alone, he noted, is not enough. The judicial role carries another requirement that lawyers often describe as temperament.
“People think like, you got to have the right temperament. Patience, open mindedness, courtesy, freedom from bias, commitment to equal justice.”
Local courts are where legal principles become real for ordinary citizens. Traffic matters, misdemeanors, small claims disputes, and preliminary criminal hearings all move through district court. For many people, this is their first direct experience with the justice system.
Whether voters ultimately support any candidate is their own decision. The goal here is simply to provide an opportunity to hear from individuals seeking public office and to encourage citizens to explore the facts for themselves.
Readers who wish to learn more about Michael Sawicky can visit his campaign website at SawickyForJudge.com. Additional information about the court serving Farmington and Farmington Hills can be found through the 47th District Court.
Understanding how these institutions function, and who seeks to serve within them, remains part of the responsibility of an informed citizenry.
