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Investiture of the Hon. Michelle Ambrozaitis

Judiciary, Community Celebrate 55th Circuit Court’s Newest Member

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By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY

Cleaver Managing Editor

HARRISON – On Jan. 17, the official investiture of 55th Circuit Court Judge Michelle Ambrozaitis was held at Mott’s Up North Wedding and Event Venue in Harrison. Friends, family, elected officials and the legal community were there to participate and congratulate Ambrozaitis.

The ceremony opened as an official in-session of the 55th Circuit Court opened by Michael Shea, Gladwin County Sheriff. State Representative Tom Kunse gave the welcoming remarks and introduced the judicial procession; the Hon. Josh Farrell, 80th District Court Judge; the Hon. Roy G. Mienk, 55th Circuit Court Judge, retired; the Hon. Tara S. Hovey, 55th Circuit Court Judge; the Hon. Marcy A. Klaus, Probate and Family Court Judge; and the Hon. Angela Sherigan, Tribal Court Judge. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by State Senator Roger Hauck.

Judge Farrell started out his welcome with some lighthearted comments before turning more serious.

“Good evening, everyone and thank you for attending this special event this evening. I proudly serve as your chief judge of the 55th and 80th District Court and it’s my 16th year on the bench. Judge Ambrozaitis thank you for allowing me to attend the first annual Clare and Gladwin County judge roast. In all seriousness, I do appreciate the opportunity to speak at your special event this evening.” Farrell then called for a round of applause for the friends and family of Judge Ambrozaitis for their support and hard work.

“This is special. I had the pleasure of meeting Judge Ambrozaitis in 1997. We started law school together on January 6, 1997. Same school, same day, 28 years ago. We made great friends and enjoyed great times in law school, but our paths separated as we pursued our legal dreams. I graduated and she graduated, and we lost touch with one another. And then there came a day when someone announced in the Clare County Courthouse that an assistant prosecutor had been hired, and her name was Michelle Joy and I thought there is no way this could be the same Michelle Joy that I knew from law school and surprisingly enough, it was. And so, our legal paths had joined once again. Michelle and her husband and my wife Tricia and I all became good friends … we shared a lot of memories.”

“Despite our prosecutor and defense attorney adversarial relationship we maintained our friendship and what I treasure the most is that despite being on opposite ends of thing for many years the friendship has remained. In 2008 our legal paths crossed once again. The two law students were elected prosecutor and judge on the same day in the same town. We’ve now worked together for nearly 30 years and tonight and for many more times after this our legal paths have crossed once again and now we become bench mates … it’s an event in this courts life that is a profoundly serious [event] one as we begin a new judges tenure it is time for reaffirming our own fidelity to the rule of law and our commitment to serving the people of Michigan. Tonight, Judge Ambrozaitis joins an exclusive brethren of 529 Michigan judges; 7 supreme court judges, 25 court of appeals judges, 221 circuit judges, 276 district judges all over the State of Michigan. You have to ask yourself what is it that makes a good judge? Legal experience for sure is critically important but what good is experience if you lack compassion, empathy, conviction, firm decision-making skills and the ability to listen to those who appear before you. Becoming a judge brings much authority but Judge Ambrozaitis remember with great authority comes great responsibility. As my friend, Michelle, the citizens of Clare and Gladwin County have confirmed that you exhibit these qualities and left their trust in you to exercise these qualities and to make good judgements. I wish you good luck and your family good luck and welcome you to the bench and offer my support to make sure you are absolutely successful.”

Next to speak was Angela Sherigan, Tribal Court Judge.

“I have known Judge Ambrozaitis since we went to law school. We have been very close and I’m very happy to be here today and very happy to make these remarks…I want to talk a little bit about the investiture ceremony and what it is … An investiture ceremony dates back to the medieval times when a king or a ruler would invest or bestow the authority to someone in public display … fast forward to today to the evolution and the adaptation to the US courts. It nods to the tradition that celebrates new leadership and honors institutional history. So, if you haven’t been to an investiture ceremony or if you have you’ve seen the judges commit. What is the point? Is it because judges are arrogant? But sometimes the public perceives us that way … [the ceremony] serves as a reminder to our commitment to federal and state laws and the US Constitution. The judicial presence acknowledges the new judge’s authority … There can no better noble cause than to be entrusted to ensure awareness, impartially and justice to the people who have entrusted with you that authority. The ceremony is also an opportunity to take pride in the new judges’ achievements and to look forward to what she will accomplish. Judge Ambrozaitis has a long history here in Clare County. She started in the prosecutor’s office in 2003 and served until 2006. She then when into private practice and was in private practice for two years until she became Clare County Prosecutor in January of 2009 and until recently served in that position. Some of the awards that she has received during that time is the lifetime achievement award from the Northern Michigan Alliance for children. Her advocacy for the establishment of the child advocacy center in Clare [County] is the main reason she received this award and she was a board member there for ten years. Other roles in the community to show and demonstrate good leadership, she was the vice-chair and on the board of directors for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, she is a past member of the Representative Assembly of the State Bar of Michigan, Clare County Community Foundation Trustee, Mid Michigan College advisory committee member, Criminal Justice program advisory committee member, a member of the Clare Rotary Club, a member of the Harrison Women’s Association, Big Brothers Big Sister, former lunch buddy and Big Sister, a past board member to Junior Achievement. She has had numerous speaking and panel events as well as training events. In addition to this her commitment to her family cannot be underestimated. All this time she had made her family her number one priority as well as her close relationships with her friends. Today, she has with her husband Gabe and her son Vincent, her parents Larry and Joyce Williams, and she also has lifetime childhood friends Danielle and Andy … as well as myself. We are all super proud of her. I know that we put things down on paper and we put things into words of all the things she has done but it truly is such an accomplishment that the voters of Clare County and Gladwin County, that they made this choice to have someone who’s not only committed to the law, committed to the community and committed to her family and I’m sure she is going to do a great job. Congratulations Michelle.”

State Rep. Tom Kunse then introduced the judiciary and state and local elected officials in attendance.

Next the speaker was the Hon. Tara Hovey.

“I am the 55th Circuit Judge and I am the one who gets the pleasure of sharing the actual bench with Michelle. Today, we celebrate the monumental achievement, the assumption of Michelle from simple, ordinary attorney to judge. As Michelle puts on the black robe, we are reminded of the weighty responsibilities of the job that comes with being a circuit judge, but we should also be aware of the most peculiar function that infects only judges – black robe disease. Symptoms of black robe disease are the urge to cite obscure precedence and Latin phrases, to pound on the table with gavels and go ‘order in the court,’ and it also comes with a loss of sense of humor and a feeling of absolute superiority. But fear not, my friends I have faith that you will resist the temptation of black robe disease. For you have seen, in your long career former friends that went down that path; you’ve seen how judges that develop black robe disease lose the respect of not only the attorneys but the those that appear in front of them. More importantly, you have demonstrated throughout your career a steadfast dedication to doing what you believe to be right even when it doesn’t make you popular. You have a sense of justice guided by a strong moral compass, and a deep understanding of the law. You have compassion and a willingness to serve and that will serve you well as a circuit judge…”

The Hon. Mary Beebe, 82nd District Court Judge, then administered the Oath of Office. After the oath of office, Ambrozaitis’ family participated in the ceremony – Ambrozaitis’ husband, Gabe Ambrozaitis, with the Presentation of the Robe and her son, Vincent, with the Presentation of the Gavel.

The Hon. Michelle Ambrozaitis then gave the following remarks:

“Thank you all so much for being here to celebrate. Your support and trust in me in this position means so much. For all your prayers … walking in parades, place signs, offer me words of encouragement during the campaign. You have all played a very important role. As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a lawyer. As my parents will tell you, I love to argue. They instilled in me a drive to follow my dreams and to work hard for what I wanted and for that I’m grateful as it brought me here to this place, right now. It seems we are all quoting judges today and I’m quoting Justice [Antonin] Scalia: ‘If you are going to be a good and faithful judge you have to resign yourself to the fact that you’re not always going to like the conclusions you reach. If you like them all the time, you’re probably doing something wrong.’ His words resonate with me because they remind us that the role of a judge is not to impose personal preferences but to uphold the rule of law even when it’s challenging. I promise to always remember that I owe my position of service to the people of Clare and Gladwin counties. I will work hard. I will follow the law. I will strive for fair and just outcomes and treat everyone who comes into my courtroom with dignity and respect. I look forward to ensuring our community continues to have a court where everyone feels heard and where justice is served impartially. Thank you, everyone, for coming.”

Rep. Tom Kunse gave the closing remarks after thunderous applause after Judge Ambrozaitis words and her taking her seat with the other judges.

“Congratulations, your Honor. We can judge a person by the friends that they have made and this evening we are all honored to be here for the investiture for such an outstanding person. We are truly honored to have someone working for us in this capacity.”

The evening concluded with a benediction by Mrs. Renee Jeffords and the closing of court by Michael Shea, Gladwin County Sheriff. Refreshments, conversations and congratulations to Judge Ambrozaitis were enjoyed with catering by the Jackpine Restaurant.

© Clare County Cleaver

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