MyMAJ
MAJ Announces 2022 General Election Endorsements
Michigan trial lawyers support several candidates in upcoming election cycle
LANSING (March 24, 2022) — The Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) today announced its first round of general election endorsements for 2022. The endorsed candidates include:
- Justice Richard Bernstein – Michigan Supreme Court
- Kyra Harris Bolden – Michigan Supreme Court
- Sima Patel – Court of Appeals District 2
- Jocelyn Benson – Secretary of State
- Dana Nessel – Attorney General
- Sam Singh – State Senate District 28
- David LeGrand – State Senate District 30
Statement from MAJ President Ronald K. Weiner:
“We are excited to support two incredible candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court. For decades Justice Bernstein has been a champion for the underdog, fighting to ensure access to justice for every Michigander. State Representative Kyra Harris Bolden is the breath of fresh air we need on the court. Her unique perspective, her experiences, and her knowledge of the law will make her a fantastic Supreme Court justice. Her voice is what we need now, more than ever
MAJ endorses candidates that display an unwavering dedication and support of a fair and effective justice system. We are honored to support these candidates who consistently fight to safeguard the right to a civil trial by jury and are committed to ensuring those injured by the misconduct or negligence at the hand of others can have their day in court.”
Visit michiganjustice.org/2022endorsements for the full list of 2022 MAJ-endorsed candidates and information regarding each candidate.
About the Candidates
Richard Bernstein became the first blind justice, elected by voters statewide, to the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2014. With a commitment to justice and fairness, Bernstein began his 8-year term in January 2015. In a landmark settlement against Delta Airlines and Detroit Metro Airport, Bernstein gained accessibility for disabled fliers, helping set the standard for which airlines and airports are to be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Kyra Bolden is currently serving her second term representing Michigan’s 35th House District. After receiving her Juris Doctorate, Bolden became a civil litigation attorney. She is also an active member of her community, serving as a member of the National Congress of Black Women-Oakland County, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and as a commissioner of the Total Living Commission for the city of Southfield.
Sima Patel was a Law Review Preemption and Screening Editor for two terms and served a judicial externship with Justice Elizabeth A. Weaver of the Michigan Supreme Court. Following graduation, Patel was offered a clerkship with Justice Weaver’s chambers where she learned about the inner mechanics of Michigan’s highest appellate court and utilized her excellent oral and written advocacy skills for the furtherance of justice.
Jocelyn Benson is Michigan’s 43rd Secretary of State. In this role she is focused on ensuring elections are secure and accessible, and dramatically improving customer experiences for all who interact with the offices. A graduate of Harvard Law School and expert on civil rights law, education law and election law, Benson served as dean of Wayne State University Law School in Detroit. In 2015, she became one of the youngest women in history to be inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
Dana Nessel is a former criminal prosecutor and civil rights attorney and was sworn in as Michigan’s 54th Attorney General on January 1, 2019. Her core initiatives have been fashioned in the image of her promise to Michigan’s residents — to give the Department of Attorney General back to the people that it serves. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law School, Attorney General Nessel lives in southeast Michigan with her wife, Alanna Maguire, and her twin sons, Alex and Zach.
Sam Singh served six years in the Michigan Legislature from 2013-2018. He was a passionate champion for issues facing working families, K-12 education, veterans, and climate change. In his role as Democratic leader, Singh was the voice for Democrats statewide and led the campaign and fundraising efforts for Democrats in 2018 that resulted in picking up five seats in Republican areas–the most in over four cycles.
David LeGrand earned a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1992. When David returned to Grand Rapids, he worked at Warner, Norcross & Judd before serving for eight years as an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor. In the prosecutor’s office, David concentrated on upholding convictions on appeal and on prosecuting domestic violence crimes.
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About the Michigan Association for Justice
The Michigan Association for Justice, formerly the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA), is a trade association of over 1,300 attorneys who represent individuals in injury, employment, civil rights and criminal matters. The organization’s staff has offices in Lansing, Michigan.
