January 26, 2005

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the following appointments and reappointments to the Governor’s Task Force on Children’s Justice:

Jackolyn M. Brundige of Traverse City.  Ms. Brundige is reappointed to represent child advocates.

Joyce L. DeJong of Haslett, medical director of Forensic Pathology at Sparrow Hospital.  Ms. DeJong is reappointed to represent health or mental health professionals. 

Sydney R. Duncan of Detroit, president of Sydney Duncan Consulting.  Ms. Duncan is appointed to represent child advocates.

Kathryn Falk Fehrman of Saginaw, adjunct professor at Cooley Law School and Saginaw Valley State University.  Ms. Fehrman is appointed to represent judicial or legal officers. 

Kiffi Y. Ford of East Lansing, attorney for Dykema Gossett, PLLC.  Ms. Ford is appointed to represent judicial or legal officers.

The Honorable Nancy C. Francis of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County probate judge.  Judge Francis is appointed to represent judicial or legal officers. 

Mary G. Gillespie of St. Joseph, therapist for Assault Recovery Associates.  Ms. Gillespie is reappointed to represent health or mental health professionals. 

The Honorable Linda S. Hallmark of Bloomfield Hills, Oakland County probate judge.  Judge Hallmark is reappointed to represent judicial or legal officers. 

The Honorable Amy P. Hathaway of Grosse Pointe Park, judge of Wayne County Circuit Court.  Judge Hathaway is appointed to represent judicial or legal officers. 

Judith S. Labovitz of Haslett.  Ms. Labovitz is reappointed to represent child advocates.

William Lansat of Farmington Hills, attorney for William Lansat Attorney at Law.  Mr. Lansat is reappointed to represent judicial or legal officers. 

Mark O. Liss of Warren, assistant deputy city attorney for the Royal Oak City Attorney’s Office.  Mr. Liss is appointed to represent judicial or legal officers. 

JoAnn C. Monaghan of Lakeport, retired high school principle.  Ms. Monaghan is reappointed to represent child advocates.

The Honorable Eugene A. Moore of Oxford, Oakland County probate judge.  Judge Moore is reappointed to represent judicial or legal officers. 

Robert R. O’Brien of Detroit, director of partnership development at Southwest Counseling and Development Services, Inc.  Mr. O’Brien is appointed to represent child advocates.

The Honorable Pamela G. O’Sullivan of Chesterfield Township, Macomb County chief probate judge.  Judge O’Sullivan is reappointed to represent judicial or legal officers. 

Mohamed Okdie of Detroit, social worker for Detroit Public Schools.  Mr. Okdie is appointed to represent parents or representatives of parents’ groups.

Euphemia “Sue” M. Parrish of Royal Oak, executive director and CEO of the North American Indian Association of Detroit, Inc.  Ms. Parrish is appointed to represent child advocates.

Martha M.K. Tjhin of Lathrup Village.  Ms. Tjhin is appointed to represent child advocates.

Alice G. Thompson of Detroit, CEO of Black Family Development, Inc.  Ms. Thompson is appointed to represent health or mental health professionals. 

Patricia J. Wagner of Charlotte, program manager for Children’s Charter of the Courts of Michigan.  Ms. Wagner is appointed to represent court-appointed special advocates.

David H. Wolock of Royal Oak, attorney in private practice.  Mr. Wolock is appointed to represent judicial or legal officers. 

All of the above appointments and reappointments have terms expiring June 30, 2006.

The Governor’s Task Force on Children’s Justice is responsible for the review and evaluation of the handling of child abuse cases in Michigan.  It also makes recommendations to the Governor on potential courses of action that, if taken, would improve the efficiency of the current system in order to better protect children, punish abusers, and enhance the laws governing child abuse, while ensuring due process of law to all parties involved. 

These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.