05/12/2026
This post came across a feed of mine and resonated with me deeply. Not just because I swam in high school and recently jumped back in the pool to train for the July 18, 2026 Mackinaw Bridge Swim, but for the truth that it reveals.
No loud moments, no short cuts, just lap after lap, day after day, doing good work, until one day you’re ready to say, Yes.
That day presented itself on March 24, 2026, when I read of Waterford District Court Judge Richard Kuhn’s retirement. In November, there would be an open seat in the judiciary of my home town of 37 years. With a quiet slow nod of my head, I thought yes.
As I look back, my legal career has been a steady progression of service.
At the age of 20, with a certificate in legal assisting in hand, my first legal job was to help social security disability attorneys in Saginaw County prepare pleadings and obtain benefits for individuals with serious impairments of bodily functions.
In 1988, my legal assisting continued, in Oakland County by helping injured individuals receive just compensation for their misfortunes.
During the next several years at slow and steady legal service pace I married, had two children, continued my legal education and quietly became an attorney in 2002.
In 2004, I answered the call to temporarily serve the Oakland County Circuit Court as a judicial staff attorney. Six months later, I was asked serve full time.
21 years later, I now serve as Deputy Court Administrator helping the public, 20 judges and over 350 circuit court employees.
No loud moments, no short cuts, just lap after lap, day after day, doing good work.
On March 24, 2026, with a slow confident nod, I said, yes. Yes to answering the call to serve as Waterford’s next District Court Judge.