Brighton attorney Andrea Banfield has joined the race to replace retiring 44th Circuit Court Judge L. Suzanne Geddis.
Banfield is the fourth candidate to declare their intent to run for the open position, making it the most-crowded primary for the 44th Circuit Court since 2018. Attorneys Christopher Candela, Mark Gatesman, and Kristina Lyke have also announced their intention to run to replace Geddis on the bench. Voters will whittle the field down to two candidates in the August primary, and the two winners will face off against each other in November’s general election.
Banfield, who turned in 1,000 petition signatures on Friday (a minimum of 600 are required to appear on the ballot), said her goal if elected would be to ensure fair and timely justice to all victims, families, and business appearing before her.
“Every person who walks into a courtroom deserves their day in court, and they deserve a judge who will truly listen,” Banfield said in a statement. “I believe in the rule of law and holding individuals accountable. At the same time, I am ready to make the tough decisions to protect public safety and strengthen our community, the community I love and in which I grew up.”
There are six elected judges in Livingston County, including three 44th Circuit Court judges, each of whom serve six-year terms. The 44th Circuit Court handles all civil cases with damages above $25,000, all family court cases, including divorce, custody and child support; all juvenile court cases, including child protection, juvenile justice and adoption; and felony criminal cases.
“I’ve spent my career helping families in Livingston County find practical, respectful solutions,” Banfield said. “On the bench, I will bring that same balanced approach — listening carefully, applying the law fairly, and making decisive rulings when needed.”
Banfield is an elected board member of the City of Brighton Downtown Development Authority, Livingston County United Way, and the Family Law Council for the State Bar of Michigan. She is a member of the Livingston Sunrise Rotary and previously served on the board for the Child Abuse Prevention Council and Women’s Resource Center, which later merged with LACASA, Livingston County’s advocacy agency for survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault, and was assigned by the Livingston County Commissioners to the Livingston County Advisory board for several terms.
Voted Livingston County’s “Best Lawyer” from 2014 – 2016 and “Best Divorce Attorney” from 2020 – 2023, Banfield was a finalist for “Best Divorce Attorney” in 2024. Her firm, Banfield Couling, was awarded “Best Law Firm” in 2021 — barely a year after it was founded. She and business partner Denise Couling introduced to southeast Michigan what they call a “principled and effective approach to handling family law matters” focused on divorcing with dignity and respect by guiding families to a resolution without a traditional lawsuit.
After high school, Banfield worked as a legal assistant in Howell while attending Eastern Michigan University for her bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies. In law school, she interned for former elected Prosecutor David Morse at the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office, gaining first-hand experience in the pursuit of justice and public safety. After graduating from Michigan State Law School, she returned to Howell to start her law practice and to start a family. Her children attended Howell Public Schools.
“My roots run deep here in Livingston County,” said Banfield, a Brighton High School graduate. “It’s where I grew up, it is where my extended family continue to live and where I raised my family and operate my business. Livingston County residents deserve a judge who shares their work ethic and knows the challenges and resources that our community has to offer. I’ve lived and worked in this community most of my life. I know our families, our challenges, and our strengths firsthand. That’s why I’m running — to deliver fair, compassionate, and decisive justice to the people I’ve served for decades.”
