The candidates running for the six-year judicial position are Marla Linderman Richelew, left, and Arianne Elizabeth Slay, right. They are competing for an open spot on the bench created by Judge Archie Brown’s retirement.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Two Washtenaw County attorneys are vying for a chance to be the next Washtenaw County Trial Court judge in the upcoming general election in November
The candidates running for the six-year judicial position are Marla Linderman Richelew and Arianne Elizabeth Slay. They are competing for an open spot on the bench created by Judge Archie Brown’s retirement.
The seat covers all circuit court matters for Washtenaw County. In general, the circuit court handles all civil cases with claims of more than $25,000 and all felony criminal cases.
Richelew is a Representative Assembly Member for Washtenaw County’s 22nd Circuit of the State Bar of Michigan, a Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Corporate Crimes Taskforce member and member of multiple other state court committees
Slay is currently a Deputy Ann Arbor City Attorney. Prior to that role, she prosecuted domestic violence cases in the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office.
MLive/The Ann Arbor News partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information for readers. Each candidate was asked to outline their stances on a variety of public policy issues listed below.
Information on other state, county and local primary races can be found at Vote411.org.
All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.
What in your education and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this position?
Richelew: Judges do not get to pick the issues they confront. Great judges must have breadth and depth of experience. A few of the experiences which prepared me for this role: ☑25 years representing people in civil rights, employment and business cases. ☑20 years of elected leadership roles in the Washtenaw and Michigan Legal Community. ☑15 years writing amicus briefs on critical issues before the Michigan Supreme Court. ☑Elected by Washtenaw attorneys as their Representative to State Bar of Michigan (SBM) Representative Assembly. ☑Past President of Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and Washtenaw (WLAM). ☑SBM Diversity Advisor. ☑SBM Domestic Violence Committee member. ☑Corporate Crimes and Economic Justice Taskforce Member (Washtenaw). ☑Expungement and Road to Restoration Volunteer. ☑Expertise in voting rights as a lawyer and election worker. ☑Co-Chair of JFS Washtenaw Integrated Senior Experience (WISE). ☑Frequent writer and speaker on vital legal issues. ☑Skyline PTSO President.
Slay: After receiving my B.A. and J.D. from Michigan State University, I worked in the Washtenaw Prosecutor’s Office, focusing on domestic violence and felony prosecution, and as a Deputy City Attorney, helping to lead Ann Arbor’s comprehensive law practice, supporting all areas of city services.
Given the criminal focus of the open seat on the Circuit Court, my experience as a leader in criminal justice reform will make me best-equipped to hit the ground running. I am statewide leader in attorney training, I have centered my approach around restorative justice and trauma-informed proceedings in order to build trust in a historically discriminatory court system.
As a trial attorney, I understand how courtrooms operate, and how best to identify disparities therein. I have practiced in every court in Washtenaw County, as well as courts in Monroe, Wayne, Lenawee and Livingston Counties. Additionally, I have practiced in every treatment court in Washtenaw County.
What are your goals should you be elected and how will you work to accomplish them?
Richelew: Our courts should work effectively for every single one of us. As your Circuit Judge I will: ☑Devote the time and effort to ensure every person coming into my courtroom knows their individual circumstances count. I want people to feel served, not simply judged. ☑Work to ensure the Circuit Court has every problem-solving court available, including Mental Health Courts for Juveniles and Adults ASAP. Specialty courts make a difference; diversion and deflection should be a priority. ☑Continue to improve transparency and accountability. Information will be available on Day 1. I am currently working with local leaders to make this a reality now. ☑Use my expertise in civil rights to identify and eliminate unnecessary hurdles and inequities faced by so many, in civil and criminal cases alike, and work to build trust in the legal system. ☑Work with the legal community to reduce the COVID backlog of court cases expeditiously. Slow justice can feel like no justice. We can do this.
Slay: The biggest goal we can achieve is to build trust in a broken system. This will not happen overnight, it will not be easy, and it will certainly take multiple changes to our laws and practices to allow it to take place.
By increasing restorative practices in both the criminal and civil justice systems, I hope to shift the courts in Washtenaw County from a punitive focus to one of community healing and accountability. I believe it is vital that we connect individuals with social safety net services, address the root causes of interactions with the court systems and support the rights’ of our victims of crime. Furthermore, diversity in representation of lawyers, judges, and other officials helps to build trust. If elected, I would be the only person of color on the Circuit Court Bench, an important perspective to help make our courts more representative of the communities they serve.
What have you achieved in your law practice that brings you the most pride?
Richelew: I help people every day. Some examples are: ☑Analyzed, advised and/or wrote briefs in the most important civil rights, employment, and constitutional issues before the Michigan Supreme Court for the last 15 years. ☑Helped 1000+ attorneys, small businesses and non-profits survive COVID. I wrote the guide on how to reopen safely and helped the Michigan YMCAs reopen (pro bono). ☑Served my community, with now-Justice Welch, helping 1000+ workers with their COVID and unemployment rights. I have helped almost 1500 workers with unemployment matters in the last year. ☑Persuaded the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to change their intake process and start allowing individuals to file their own civil rights complaints. ☑Represent a group of Bipartisan Legislators protecting the right to home health care for the traumatically injured. ☑Convinced many Michigan Courts to create a dedicated breast-feeding area in their courthouses. ☑Shut down an environmental polluter in Washtenaw.
Slay: I’ve seen how broken the system is. While African Americans only make up 13% of the county population, we made up over 70% of criminal defendants. Working as a line-prosecutor, I had little chance to make changes to address this issue. I had some impact on the cases assigned to me, but it was not enough to turn the tides. I resigned in 2017 to try to make a change. Since then, I have worked to re-prioritize the criminal justice reform in Ann Arbor to focus on rehabilitation, moving away from the punitive system. I started our County’s first ever Criminal Diversion Program, moving people out of the system by helping them address the root causes of justice involvement. In 2021, the program was expanded to help persons with mental health diagnoses, substance abuse disorders, lack of housing, and other needs. I am incredibly proud that we have diverted over 250 people from the justice system (roughly 80% of my cases), and our Expungement Program has assisted over 100 people.
What factors do you bring to bear in deciding a case?
Richelew: I’ll consider all factors needed to do justice while serving all of the people of Washtenaw. You will never be a case or a number. Your individual circumstances will be considered. I’ll work hard to get all of the facts and ascertain the law in every case. When you come to my courtroom, you’ll feel welcome, knowing that I will listen attentively to all your concerns. Your voice will be heard. Your justice will not be delayed. It also won’t be rushed. I bring expertise in the diverse areas of law decided by the Circuit Court and understanding in how the civil, criminal, business, family, juvenile, and probate dockets are all intertwined. The Circuit Court is a court of equity and I know how important that is. Impartiality, fairness and compassion will be guiding principles in every decision I make. I will use restorative and rehabilitative processes and offer them to all who enter my courtroom. And I’ll work to increase the availability and accessibility of these tools in Washtenaw.
Slay: The hallmark of a good judge is the ability to decide every case which comes before them with the individualized attention each community member deserves. Whether the case is civil or criminal in nature, I am committed to understanding the facts and the law behind each decision. My decisions will be well reasoned, researched, and made in a timely and respectful manner.
In my nearly two decades of public service, I have practiced criminal law, employment law, contract law, civil rights law, civil litigation, drafted legislation and governmental department policies, advised clients across Washtenaw’s government entities, and authored hundreds of legal briefs. I have a comprehensive career as a leading trial attorney and am prepared to decide cases across all areas of law - on day one.
What are the priority issues facing this court, and how would you address them if elected?
Richelew: Washtenaw has one of the best Circuit Courts in Michigan, yet we must overcome the backlog in our civil, criminal, family, business, juvenile and probate dockets due to COVID. We can make justice more timely for people who have been living in pain, denied medical care, in fear of losing their homes, kept from their children, trapped in a marriage they no longer want, or in fear of losing their freedom. Justice delayed by COVID is still justice denied. We can work closer with attorneys involved; my 20 years of leadership in our legal community will drive this process forward. I will work with community leaders to increase transparency and accountability, create safe spaces for people to get the justice they need, and address mental health, substance dependency and poverty issues. I’ve rolled up my sleeves on expungement and road to restoration efforts. Building trust in our justice system is a priority. It will take hard work, on and off the bench. I am not afraid of hard work.
Slay: 1. Transparency - We must correct the wrongs of past descrimination in our courts. In order to do so, we need data on what goes on in the system, and transparency and accountability about this data to the public.
2. Civil Justice Reform - access to counsel in the civil division is not as consistent, which must be changed. Courtrooms are not welcoming - the forms can be confusing, and it requires the use of an entire book to explain the rules on how to appear before the court. We need to ensure court services are accessible across all parts of the county, meaning access to services, legal counsel, broadband service expansion, and a balance between video and in-person court hearings.
3. Criminal Justice Reform - As a leading criminal justice reformer, I understand how reforming the way individuals interact with law enforcement and the criminal justice system can and will change our community for the better. If elected, I promise to bring compassion, integrity, and wisdom to the ben
What is your general judicial philosophy?
Richelew: Courts are here to serve the people. I will be there to serve you. Real people with real issues come to court and I will listen to you and hear your voices. My court will be fair, impartial and compassionate. I will make the courtroom process less stressful, knowing that the people who appear before me may be going through trauma. Judges should not make the process harder. Every person’s legal issue deserves its own unique consideration and outcome. Restoration and rehabilitation tools can bring critical help to people in need. The law should not act in a vacuum without consideration for equity and compassion, even when the law requires punishment. Great judges work hard, inside and outside of the courtroom, driven by commitment and compassion. And if I see something is not right, I will work to make it right. I am here for you and look forward to making a difference in our community. For more information about me, please go to www.marlaforjudge.org.
Slay: I will be a judge that our community can depend on to not only follow the law, but to do so in a way that shows respect for all involved. As to matters of law, I will maintain the highest standards of case and legislative review practices, as I have over my career. As to matters of fact, I will diligently hear and review all admissible information and reserve judgment according to the standards set forth in the law. As to matters of procedure, I will be guided by the Michigan Court rules.
I will endeavor to make sure the courtroom is a place that each person feels respected, regardless of what issue brought them into court. I believe in rehabilitation, restoration, and protection, and that resolutions that incorporate these principles provide for better dispositions over time. I will aim to foster justice and healing within the purview of the law, and build trust in our justice system from all members of our community, no matter their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
Read more Washtenaw County election coverage here.
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