In this episode, host Nicole Smithson speaks with three distinguished jurists about their journey to the bench and their advice for attorneys who want to become a judge. Additionally, Lynn Helland, executive director of the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, shares valuable information about the unique ethical requirements for judicial candidates.
Hon. Julie A. Gafkay was appointed to the Saginaw County Circuit Court bench by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on April 26, 2023, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Janet M. Boes.
Prior to her appointment, Judge Gafkay owned a law firm in Saginaw County for 20 years specializing in civil rights, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, Whistleblowers’ Protection Act, and personal injury. She served as president of the Saginaw County Bar Association and Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.
Lynn Helland is the executive director of the Judicial Tenure Commission. Prior to joining the JTC, he was an Assistant United States Attorney for 34 years. He has significant experience with Michigan legal ethics as professional responsibility officer for the US Attorney’s Office, discipline hearing panelist for the Attorney Discipline Board, and ethics instructor. His work included helping colleagues in the US Attorney’s Office comply with the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct.
Hon. Shelia R. Johnson is Chief Judge of the 46th District Court, which serves the Michigan communities of Southfield, LathrupVillage, Bingham Farms, Beverly Hills, Franklin, and Southfield Township. Judge Johnson was elected in November 2002 and is the first African American to serve as a judge in the 46th District Court and the first African American female districtcourt judge in Oakland County. In 2012, Judge Johnson was selected by the Michigan Democratic Party as a candidate for Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
Prior to assuming the bench, Judge Johnson was an attorney, with over 18 years of legal experience in both State and FederalCourts. She has held many positions in professional associations, including but not limited to: past president of the statewide Michigan District Judges Association; member of the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Council; past president of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan, former vice-president and board member of the National Association of Women Judges; past board member, financial secretary, and recording secretary of the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association; former member of the Equal Access Initiative of the Committee on Justice Initiatives of the State Bar of Michigan; and fellow of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association, and the Oakland County Bar Association.
Hon. Sima G. Patel was appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2022. Before joining the bench, she was anappellate attorney in private practice for over 11 years representing clients in complex litigation before the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Federal 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Patel began her legal career as a law clerk in the Michigan Supreme Court.
Judge Patel was recognized as a 2021 Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leader in the Law. She won the WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law Review Distinguished Brief Award for writing one of the top scholarly appellate briefs submitted to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2020. Judge Patel is a contributing author for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education publication Torts: Michigan Law and Practice.
Nicole M. Smithson is the Oakland County Indigent Defense Services Office’s principal attorney for compliance with Standards 6 and 7. She is currently president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, creative director of the Working Towards Nine podcast, and co-chair of the National Association of Women Lawyers’ membership, growth, and engagement committee.
For a copy of Judge Johnson’s PowerPoint slides, please email info@womenlawyers.org.
