RICHARD CUNNINGHAM is seeking a "Non-Incumbent" position. (Open Seat)

Michigan law provides for the slotting of judicial candidates. All incumbent judges and their challengers run together for election to the "Incumbent Positions." Persons seeking election to "open seats" run separately on the ballot for "Non-Incumbent Positions." Richard Cunningham is running for one of the three open seats, and thus is not challenging any sitting judge.

Under the Michigan Constitution, a sitting judge may not run for re-election after he or she turns 70 years of age. Since two sitting Wayne County Circuit Court Judge are now over 70 (Hon. William Giovan and Hon. Warfield Moore, Jr.) they are not eligible to seek re-election. Their positions are thus"open seats," which will be filled during this election cycle.

Furthermore, Hon. Helen Brown has decided to serve out her current term and retire, and will not seek re-election. Her position is thus the third "open seat" to be filled at the 2008 election.

Michigan Rule of Professional Conduct 8.2(b) provides that a lawyer (even one who is currently not a judge) shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Canon 7 of the MCJC provides that a candidate for judicial office may not solicit or accept campaign donations, but may establish a committee of responsible persons to secure and manage the expenditure of funds for the campaign and to obtain public statements of support for the candidacy. However, the committee may not solicit funds for the campaign any earlier than February 15 of the year of the election.

RICHARD CUNNINGHAM FOR CIRCUIT JUDGE is a campaign committee formed and existing under Michigan law to promote the candidacy of Richard Cunningham for Judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court.

This website, and its content, is authorized and paid for by the candidate's committee: Richard Cunningham For Circuit Judge, 9311 E. Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48213.

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