Juducial-Candidate2

Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee (JCEC)

The Detroit Bar Association is pleased to announce its 2026 Evaluation Process for Judicial Candidates.  We have a long-standing custom of providing this important public service. The JCEC provides the bench, bar, media, and voters with fair, impartial, and well-informed evaluations that advance integrity and public confidence in the courts. It is a civic function of the highest calling. All deliberations are strictly confidential, with judicial ratings announced to the public at the end of the evaluation process. If you are interested in serving on this year’s Committee, please do the following: 

1. Review the JCEC Bylaws (PDF) and Guidelines (PDF); and complete and sign the attached JCEC Membership Application (Word Doc). A signed JCEC Membership Application must be submitted to tcooley@detroitlawyer.org no later than December 22, 2025, to be considered.  

2. Please note that you must be a member of the Detroit Bar Association to be eligible. If you are not currently a member, you may join on our website.  Judges and Judicial Candidates cannot serve on this Committee. 

3. The 2026 schedule includes a mandatory orientation on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. via zoom; and a mandatory in-person deliberations on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Additionally, committee members must sit on interview panels between March and June 2026. Applicants should confirm availability for these dates and a willingness to participate in multiple interview panels. 

Decisions regarding committee appointments will be communicated to all applicants in January 2026. 

No one is better equipped to evaluate judicial qualifications than fellow lawyers.  It is up to us to do this.  If you have any questions, please contact the Executive Director Tracey Cooley at tcooley@detroitlawyer.org. 

Donn Fresard, Committee Co-Chair |  Sarah Wykof , Committee Co-Chair | Richard AlAziz , Committee Co-Chair

JCEC Bylaws (PDF)
JCEC Guidelines (PDF)
JCEC Membership Application (Word Doc)

__________________________________________

The Detroit Bar Association is conducts a biennial evaluation of judicial candidates. All deliberations are confidential, with judicial ratings announced to the public at the end of the evaluation process. Judicial ratings are:

  • Outstanding: To be rated “outstanding,” an individual must stand at the top of his/her profession; and must rank among the very best qualified judges or lawyers available for judicial service. S/he must have outstanding legal ability and background, and wide experience, wisdom, intellect, insight, and impartiality. To be accorded this highest rating, a candidate should generally also have the breadth of vision and outlook which derives from participation in the civic, charitable, religious or political activities of the community and the work of the organized bar of other professional organizations. In short, s/he should be a person whose preeminence in the law and as a citizen is widely acknowledged and whose qualifications for the position are virtually unanimously hailed by judges and lawyers.
  • Well Qualified: To be rated “well qualified,” a candidate must exhibit essentially those qualities indicated for the rating of “outstanding.” Although this is a rating which is lower than outstanding, it is nevertheless a high rating. A “Well Qualified” candidate may have less breadth of experience but shows the promise of all the criteria above.
  • Qualified: To be rated “qualified,” a candidate must exhibit a fitness for the judicial office which s/he seeks. A candidate given this rating would be considered average on an overall analysis of the factors set forth in (a) above
  • Not Qualified: To be rated “not qualified,” a candidate must be considered well below average on an overall analysis of the factors set forth in (a) above. The “not qualified” rating indicates that a candidate is not qualified for the judicial office which he or she seeks, but the rating should in no way be construed as an adverse reflection on the candidate’s qualifications as an attorney.
  • No rating, Did Not Participate: If a candidate does not submit a questionnaire or attend an interview and the Association Secretary certifies, in writing, to the Committee that written notice was provided to the candidate, then the Committee may issue a “No Rating; Did Not Participate”. However, if there is sufficient information available to the Committee on the Candidate’s fitness for the judicial office which s/he seeks, the Committee may rate such candidate, even in absence of a questionnaire or an interview.