Rare contested race for Clinton County district judge

The first contested race for Clinton County District Court judge in nearly 25 years pits an attorney with her own practice against a veteran prosecutor.

Shannon Schlegel, who for more than 12 years has operated a law practice in DeWitt, is running against Clinton County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Clarizio, the office’s senior criminal trial lawyer.

Judge Richard Wells — appointed to the bench in 1993 and unopposed in every election since — is retiring when his term expires at the end of December. Wells, who turned 73 this year, can’t run again because the state constitution prevents anyone 70 or older from being elected judge.

The last contested election was in 1990, when attorney Karl Bohnhoff challenged Judge Jeff Martlew, who was seeking a second term. Martlew won but was elected to the county’s circuit court two years later. Wells was appointed in 1993 by Gov. John Engler to fill Martlew’s seat.

Clarizio is emphasizing his experience — he’s been an assistant prosecutor since 1991 — and endorsements that include Wells, most law enforcement officials in the county and more than 200 attorneys.

The support from criminal defense attorneys and law enforcement, he said, shows both groups believe he will be fair.

“I always try to treat people with dignity and respect,” Clarizio said. “I always try to see that justice is done in each case.”

Schlegel said she has experience in more than 50 courtrooms across the state - in district courts, circuit courts and the state Court of Appeals. She has handled a variety of cases, from contract disputes and landlord-tennant cases to criminal defense work.

For nearly two years, Schlegel served as the court-appointed attorney in Lansing’s 54A District Court for Judge Amy Krause, who is now on the Court of Appeals. Schlegel represented defendants who couldn’t afford their own attorneys. That experience alone involved thousands of cases, Schlegel said.

For the last 10 years, she said, it hasn’t been necessary to advertise her law practice.

“I’m a successful business owner,” Schlegel said. “I get my cases on a referral basis.”

Schlegel, whose husband is co-owner of Schlegel Sand and Gravel, said being a judge is something she’s wanted to do since law school.

District Court judges serve six-year terms. They handle most traffic violations, lawsuits involving up to $25,000, landlord-tenant matters and all misdemeanor cases. The annual salary is $138,272.

Candidates

Michael Clarizio

Residence: DeWitt

Age: 53

Occupation: Clinton County Assistant Prosecutor since 1991

Education: Law degree, Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington; bachelor’s degree, Michigan State University

Family: Married, three daughters

Shannon Schlegel

Residence: Ovid

Age: 43

Occupation: Private attorney, has owned law practice more than 12 years

Education: Law degree, Cooley Law School; bachelor’s degree, University of California, San Diego

Family: Married, one daughter