Judges, Candidates, and County Execs

Scott’s got a full docket on this episode, as he interviews Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Macomb County Judge Sheila Miller, and attorney Mark Bernstein. Plus, State Senator Tom George tells us why he’s the right choice for Michigan’s Governor.

Episode Segments:

Weinberg on the Law: Legal News and Notes Scott discusses the investigation into the fatal shooting of Aiyana Stanley-Jones, and how the Supreme Court’s ruling on the juvenile lifer law will impact Michigan.
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Weinberg on the Law: L. Brooks Patterson Oakland County is trying some innovative things to regain its standing as one of the top places to live in the country. We’ll learn more , as Scott welcomes County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who talks about what he’s doing to rejuvenate the economy, the businesses we should be building around, and what they’re doing to improve education. He also talks about why he did not run for governor.
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Weinberg on the Law: Senator Tom George Is State Senator Tom George just what the doctor ordered for the great state of Michigan? Scott goes one on one with the Gubernatorial candidate to learn more about his platform, and his plans for the state should he be elected.
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Weinberg on the Law: Attorney Mark Bernstein Personal Injury Attorney Mark Bernstein talks about growing up in the shadow of his father, and the innovative advertising techniques his father developed. Then, he discusses his firm’s goal of helping the common guy, and also talks about his time working in the Clinton White House.
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Weinberg on the Law: Judge Sheila Miller Macomb County Judge Sheila Miller joins Scott to talk about what’s happening in her district, including how the problems in the local economy is affecting what she is seeing in her courtroom.
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Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

L. Brooks Patterson L. Brooks Patterson is beginning his fifth four-year term as Oakland County Executive after winning re-election in 2008 by another large electoral margin. As the chief elected official in one of America’s most affluent and progressive counties, Mr. Patterson presides over a nearly $820 million dollar recommended annual budget for FY2010 and a county workforce of nearly 4,000 full and part time benefit eligible employees. During the 16 years of the Patterson administration, Oakland County government has earned respect from Wall Street for its solid tax base and sound financial policies by attaining and maintaining a coveted AAA bond rating, which only 34 of the nations 3,200 counties have received. Learn More About Mr. Patterson

Tom George Tom George was elected to the 20th District of the Michigan Senate in 2002 after serving one term in the House of Representatives. The 20th Senate District includes all of Kalamazoo County and Antwerp and Paw Paw Townships in Van Buren County. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Tom serves on four sub-committees. He is Chair of the History, Arts and Libraries (HAL) sub-committee and Vice-Chair of the Higher Education and the Department of Labor and Economic Growth Subcommittees, and he is a member of the Department of Community Health (DCH) subcommittee. Tom also serves as Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee and is a member of the Joint Capitol Committee. Tom has received Legislator of the Year awards from the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the Michigan Association of Health Plans, and Scenic Michigan as well as a Friend of Diabetes and Kidney Health Care award from the American Diabetes Association, the Michigan Diabetes Outreach Network and the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan. Born and raised in Flint, Tom George graduated from Powers Catholic High School in 1975. He received his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1982, where in 1985 he also completed a post-graduate residency in the specialty of Anesthesiology. He is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology, and has held his State of Michigan medical license since 1982. A practicing physician in the Kalamazoo area since 1985, Tom served as the medical director for Hospice of Greater Kalamazoo from 1996 until 2001. Outside of his medical practice Tom has numerous other pursuits. He is a past-president of the Historical Society of Michigan, a long time volunteer at Portage Cable Access, and has participated in medical missions to Africa and the Caribbean. Tom and Sandy George met at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and were married in 1981. They have three children: Lauren, Maria and Matthew. The family resides in Texas Township in Kalamazoo County. Learn More About Senator George

Mark Bernstein Attorney Mark Bernstein joined the Sam Bernstein Law firm in March of 2002. Previously, Mark served as the White House Director of Press Pool Operations during the Clinton Administration. Following that, he worked in the real estate investment banking group at Citigroup Capital Markets (formerly Salomon Smith Barney). Mark graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A., J.D. and M.B.A. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan. He is a member of the Michigan Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice, and the American Bar Association. Mark serves on the Executive Board of the Michigan Association for Justice. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County and the Jewish Funds for Justice (based in New York, New York). Mark lectures on legal practice, civil rights, and political activism at the University of Michigan Law School and the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Sam Bernstein Law Firm website

Sheila Miller Sheila Miller is the first African-American judge in Macomb County and one of three 41B District Court judges for the communities of Clinton Township, Harrison Township, and Mount Clemens, Mich. Miller was appointed in May 2006. Miller, a native to Detroit, earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science/Public Administration at Michigan State University, while working as a resident assistant. She then began work for the Michigan Legislature in Lansing, Mich. as a legislative assistant and was promoted to administrative assistant. While working during the day, she enrolled at Cooley Law School. While at Cooley, she was selected as a member of the school’s national trial competition team, won an American Jurisprudence Book Award, and served as a teaching assistant. After graduating from Cooley, she began working as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Macomb County, where for 14 years she handled a wide variety of cases. She has also been an active member in the Cooley community. In November 2006, she won her first election retaining her judgeship.