Howell attorney Mark Gatesman is running for Livingston County’s 44th Circuit Court judgeship.
The seat is currently occupied by Judge Suzanne Geddis, who can’t run again because of her age. Michigan law prohibits anyone 70 or older from being appointed or elected to a judicial position.
Gatesman is the lead counsel on People v Kowalski, the infamous Livingston County criminal case in which the conviction was reversed due to judicial misconduct. The reversal came after one of the biggest scandals ever in Livingston County history, one that featured sex, murder, lies, and coverups, and brought down Livingston County District Court Judge Theresa Brennan in its wake. (You can read our coverage of the case here.)
Brennan ended up pleading to a single count of perjury instead of facing trial on charges of perjury, tampering with or destroying evidence, and misconduct in office.
Gatesman has been working for six years to uncover the corruption in the case to ensure Kowalski receives a fair trial.
Gatesman is the defense attorney for Livingston County’s Sobriety Court, a specialty court that deals with criminal offenders with drug and/or alcohol problems. The Sobriety Court provides both intensive drug and alcohol treatment, and probation supervision monitored by the drug court team. This court has a high success of sobriety for participants, allowing them to return to their families and work, and reduces costs by focusing on treatment instead of incarceration.
Gatesman said he would be a judge with clear purpose, and he is committed to standing for what’s right.
“Judges must be independent, fair, and courageous in upholding the law without bias or outside influence,” he said.
A member of both the Michigan and Florida Bar associations, Gatesman has practiced law from his office on Grand River Avenue in Howell, in front of the Howell Public Schools complex. He is admitted to and practices regularly in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in both the northern and southern divisions, and he is admitted to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Gatesman was born and raised in Howell, and graduated from Howell High School. He is the youngest son of former Livingston County Prosecutor Charles B. Gatesman. He and his wife, Carolyn, have two children who are currently in college.
