Judging the Judges

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Carol Kuhnke says the same about herself. "I'm the better candidate," she says. "My experience is deeper, and all of it is in the circuit court. I've tried many, many circuit cases, and my trials last longer than most. It's not uncommon for them to last up to two weeks."

Born in Monroe in 1968, Kuhnke moved to Ann Arbor in 1998. She's practiced in circuit court ever since, specializing in civil litigation. "I love what I do," she says. "My days are spent helping people with legal problems that deeply affect their lives, and as a judge I'll be able to do all of that and more."

Like all the judicial candidates, Kuhnke says she's running hard, with campaign appearances, candidate forums, lawn signs, and literature, plus going door-to-door. "It's great connecting with the voters, and it's exciting to see a lot of people engaging in the process who haven't been aware of judges' elections before."

Tim Connors was born in 1954 in Providence, Rhode Island, but grew up in Ann Arbor and has been here ever since. He became a judge in 1991, first with the Fifteenth District Court, then the Twenty-Second Circuit Court, and he relishes the role. "I know of no greater calling," he says. "This is the peak of my aspirations." Connors describes his job as "first, listen; second, hear; then be decisive. You try to make it clear to everyone in court that you heard what they said and that you understood them and why you're making the decision you're making."