May 13, 2009
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the following recent appointments and reappointments to the Task Force on Children's Justice:
Daniel Adams of Allendale, detective with the Grand Rapids Police Department, is appointed to represent the law enforcement community for a term expiring June 30, 2010. He succeeds John Gravier whose term has expired.
JoAnne Gasco of Suttons Bay, chief judge for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Court, is appointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010. She succeeds Kathryn Falk Fehrman whose term has expired.
Wayne Beerbower of Farmington Hills, retired police officer and business agent for the Police Officers Association of Michigan, is reappointed to represent the law enforcement community for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Nancy Diehl of Detroit, chief prosecuting attorney for the Felony Trial Division of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Hon. Susan Dobrich of Dowagiac, chief judge of the Cass County Probate Court, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Shauna Dunnings of Lansing, deputy court administrator with Ingham County Friend of the Court, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Donald Duquette of Ann Arbor, director of the Child Advocacy Law Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Elias Escobedo, Jr. of West Bloomfield, attorney in private practice, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Euphemia "Sue" Parish Franklin of Royal Oak, executive director of South Eastern Michigan Indians, Inc., is reappointed to represent child advocates for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
M. Gloria Gillespie of St. Joseph, therapist with Assault Recovery Associates, is reappointed to represent health and mental health professionals for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Hon. Linda Hallmark of Bloomfield Hills, Oakland County Probate Court judge, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Radwan Khoury of Livonia, executive director and COO of the Arab-American and Chaldean Council, is reappointed to represent parents and representatives of parents' groups for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Judith Labovitz of Haslett, Michigan Department of Human Services retiree, is reappointed to represent child advocates for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Kathleen Lacko of Ludington, leadership council director for the West Michigan Child & Family Leadership Council, is reappointed to represent child advocates for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
William Lansat of Farmington Hills, attorney in private practice specializing in the litigation of child protection proceedings, is reappointed to represent child advocates for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Sandra Lindsey of Lathrup Village, CEO of Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority, is reappointed to represent health and mental health professionals for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Theodore Melinat of Pinconning, retired executive director of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Michigan, is reappointed to represent child protective service agencies for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
JoAnn Monaghan of Lakeport, retired principal of Port Huron Northern High School, is reappointed to represent child advocates for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Eugene Moore of Oxford, chief judge of the Oakland County Probate Court, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Jolanda Murphy of Suttons Bay, department manager and justice for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, is reappointed to represent the law enforcement community for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Hon. Pamela O'Sullivan of Chesterfield Township, chief judge of the Macomb County Probate Court, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Hon. Gregory Pittman of Muskegon, Muskegon County Probate Court judge, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Lawrence Richardson of Adrian, Madison Charter Township supervisor and former Lenawee County sheriff, is reappointed to represent the law enforcement community for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Patricia Sorenson of Okemos, vice president of Policy for Michigan's Children, is reappointed to represent parents and representatives of parents' groups for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Hon. Lisa Sullivan of DeWitt, Clinton County Probate Court judge, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Patricia Wagner of Charlotte, court-appointed special advocate for the Children's Charter of the Courts of Michigan, is reappointed to represent court-appointed special advocates for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Hon. Elizabeth Weaver of Glen Arbor, Michigan Supreme Court Justice and chairperson of the Governor's Task Force on Children's Justice, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
David Wolock of Royal Oak, attorney in private practice, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
Hon. Tracey Yokich of St. Clair Shores, Macomb County Circuit Court judge, is reappointed to represent judicial and legal officers for a term expiring June 30, 2010.
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 and reappointments are not subject to disapproval by the Michigan Senate.
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