Michael Mitchell Appointed to Magistrate in Madison Height’s 43rd District Court
(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 14, 2021)
Madison Heights, MI – With all three city councils in the 43rd District Court jurisdiction voting yes – Hazel Park, Ferndale, and Madison Heights – Michael Mitchell has been officially appointed to serve as magistrate in the Madison Heights location.
“Magistrate Kim Wilson is retiring effective March 31st from the Madison Heights division of the 43rd District Court, creating a vacancy,” explained Judge Joseph Longo who oversees the Ferndale Court and is the Chief Judge for the District.
“Judge Keith Hunt presides over that division and that magistrate position works directly for him. Judge Hunt has watched Mike Mitchell work in that court for many years. When Magistrate Wilson announced her retirement, Judge Hunt recommended Mike Mitchell to be her replacement, and both Judge Hartwell and I agreed.”
A district court magistrate has four key responsibilities that include: arraigning defendants on felony and misdemeanor charges; authorizing search warrants for police within the district; conducting informal hearings on civil traffic offenses like speeding or parking violations; and conducting first level trials for Small Claims civil claims.
This position is only for the Madison Heights Court, and it comes out of that city’s budget.
Mitchell is looking forward to taking on the position. “Serving as a magistrate is important because it gives me an opportunity to serve the community in a number of ways and also a chance to show that I will dispatch my constitutional duties in an approachable, fair-minded, and pragmatic manner,” he said.
Since 2013, Mitchell has been an attorney who handles criminal defense as well as representing businesses, organizations, and individuals in civil, real estate, licensure, and administrative matters. Prior to that he served as a judicial law clerk for the honorable William E. Bolle at the 52-4 district court in Troy from 2008-2013. He ran for the Judge position in the 43rd District in 2020, but did not advance past the primary. In addition to his work as an attorney, he is a Real Estate broker and a certified mediator.
Longo said of the new appointee, “If you ask anyone in the legal community about Mike Mitchell, you will consistently hear two things: he is a good lawyer and a nice guy. These traits are most important in a magistrate. The magistrate is often the first court official that people see. Mike is the kind of person that will understand that people coming before him will be nervous. He will be patient and compassionate as they work through the process.”
Learn more about the 43rd District Court in Madison Heights at https://www.madison-heights.org/266/43rd-District-Court/