Three attorneys—Dennis M. Barnes, Edward L. Haroutunian, and Michael S. Hohauser—won contested seats in this year’s Board of Commissioners elections. All will serve three-year terms expiring at the close of the 2019 Annual Meeting.
Dennis M. Barnes, elected to serve District H, representing Wayne, Monroe and Lenawee counties, is a member of Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker in Detroit, focusing his practice on business litigation. Edward L. Haroutunian and Michael S. Hohauser were both elected to serve District I, representing Oakland County. Haroutunian practices law at Haroutunian Licata Haroutunian, P.C., in Bingham Farms. Hohauser practices law with Hohauser Kuchon in Troy.
The SBM Board of Commissioners provides oversight to the State Bar on finance, public policy, professional standards and member services and communications.
SBM Representative Assembly
Seven attorneys won contested races for the SBM Representative Assembly.
Matthew R. Abel and Daniel J. Ferris won contested elections to represent Wayne County for the Third Circuit.
Stephen J. Gobbo, Jessica L. Zimbelman and Christopher L. Jackson won contested elections to represent Ingham County for the 30th Circuit.
Dennis L. Perkins and William H. Hougaboom won contested elections to represent Livingston County for the 44th Circuit.
Thirty-one attorneys won unopposed races in the State Bar Representative Assembly. These new members are:
Fourth Circuit—Jackson County
Philip M. Moilanen
Sixth Circuit—Oakland County
Henry S. Gornbein
Michael J. Blau
James T. Weiner
Steven L. Rotenberg
Shannon M. Smith
Paul A. Thursam
Christopher R. Schaedig
Seventh Circuit—Genesee County
Nancy K. Chinonis
Ninth Circuit—Kalamazoo County
Mark A. Holsomback
12th Circuit—Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw Counties
Diana M. Langdon
13th Circuit—Antrim, Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties
Lea Ann Sterling
16th Circuit—Macomb County
Karen Trickey Pappas
Randall Chionini
Laura I. Marji
17th Circuit—Kent County
Michael P. Hanrahan
22nd Circuit—Washtenaw County
Peter M. Falkenstein
25th Circuit—Marquette County
Erica N. Payne Roell
29th Circuit—Clinton and Gratiot Counties
Colleen M. Davis
31st Circuit—St. Clair County
Gerrow D. Mason
32nd Circuit—Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties
Anna R. Talaska
33rd Circuit—Charlevoix County
Katrina D. Martin
37th Circuit—Calhoun County
David E. Gilbert
39th Circuit—Lenawee County
Jennifer A. Frost
40th Circuit—Lapeer County
Bernard A. Jocuns
41st Circuit—Dickinson, Iron and Menominee Counties
Kristin L. Kass
42nd Circuit—Midland County
Angela M. Cole
Jessica L. Robison
53rd Circuit–Cheboygan and Presque Isle Counties
Melissa Goodrich
56th Circuit–Eaton County
Jessica S. Fox
57th Circuit–Emmet County
Christina L. DeMoore
The 150-member Representative Assembly was created in 1972 to increase the proportion of members who actively participate in State Bar policy; it serves as the SBM final policy-making body.
Judicial Tenure Commission
Thomas J. Ryan, of Sylvan Lake, won a contested election for a three-year term on the Judicial Tenure Commission that will commence Jan. 1, 2017 and will expire on Dec. 31, 2019.
The JTC is a constitutionally created body that promotes the integrity of the judicial process and preserves public confidence in the courts.
SBM Young Lawyers Section Executive Council
Ryan Zemke, of Utica, won an uncontested election in District 1, representing Wayne and Macomb counties, for a two-year term expiring in 2018.
Three attorneys—Jerome Crawford, of Troy; Tanya N. Cripps, of Auburn Hills; and Choi T. Portis, of Southfield—won uncontested elections in District 2, representing Oakland County, for two-year terms expiring in 2018.
Three attorneys—Erica N. Payne Roell, of Marquette; Katherine J. Bennett, of Lansing; and Roberta L. Sacharski, of Flint—won uncontested elections in District Three, representing all Michigan counties except for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb, for two-year terms expiring in 2018.
The Young Lawyers Executive Council governs the members of the Young Lawyers Section, one of the State Bar's largest sections. The section provides education, information and analysis about issues of concern through meetings, seminars, public service programs and newsletters. The section has won numerous awards for its public service and educational programs.