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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*?

October 26, 2023?

Contact: [email protected]?

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*Gov. Whitmer Makes Appointments to the Bench*?

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*LANSING, Mich. *?Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointments of Lawrence Elassal to the 3rd Circuit Court (Wayne County), Matthew Wiese to the 25th Circuit Court (Marquette County), and Monique Sharpe to the 36th District Court (City of Detroit).?

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?Today, I am honored to appoint three qualified legal professionals to the bench in Wayne County, Marquette County, and the City of Detroit,? said *Governor Whitmer*. ?Lawrence, Matthew, and Monique all bring decades of experience to their new positions on the bench. I am confident that they will serve with distinction and uphold the rule of law.??

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*3**rd** Circuit Court - Wayne County*?

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Lawrence Elassal is a Magistrate for the 20th District Court and the founding Partner and Senior Trial Attorney at Elassal & Associates, PLC. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Michigan and Henry Ford College, where he teaches business law classes. Previously, Mr. Elassal worked as a Federal Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Department of Defense and was an associate attorney for Cardelli, Lanfear & Buikema, P.C.??

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Mr. Elassal received his Bachelor of Business Administration and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from the Michigan State University College of Law.???

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"I am humbled and incredibly honored to receive this appointment from Governor Whitmer to serve as a Circuit Court Judge," said *Elassal.* "I am excited to serve the citizens of Wayne County and the State of Michigan, and committed to treating all those who appear before the court with the utmost respect and humanity. I promise to remain devoted to every person that enters my courtroom, by ensuring my decisions are fair and equitable based on deliberation grounded in law."??

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This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Gregory D. Bill. Mr. Elassal?s term will commence on December 4, 2023, and expire at twelve o?clock noon on January 1, 2025.???

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*25**th** Circuit Court ? Marquette County?*?

Matthew Wiese is the Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney. He has served in the Prosecutor's Office for over thirty years, including as Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney from 2009-2011. He previously served as a staff attorney for the Battered Women?s Justice Project and as Associate Dean of Students at Northern Michigan University. During his tenure as a prosecutor, Mr. Wiese authored or coauthored successful grant proposals for, among other things, the OVW Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant Program as well as the Blueprint for Safety, an Interagency Model Community Response to Domestic Violence. He also assisted in developing and promoting a countywide law enforcement policy for domestic violence cases in Marquette County. In 2022, he was awarded the Career Prosecutor Service Award in recognition of over 30 years of service as a prosecutor.??

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Mr. Wiese received his Bachelor of Science from Northern Michigan University and his Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School.?

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"I want to thank Governor Whitmer for this appointment," said *Wiese*. "I am honored to be selected and look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Marquette County as their next 25th Circuit Court Judge. As a prosecutor, I have made every effort to be fair and seek justice, and, as Marquette County's next Circuit Court Judge, I will strive to make decisions that are fair and just, while treating all who come before the Court with dignity and respect."?

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?This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Jennifer Mazzuchi. Mr. Wiese?s term will commence on Monday, November 27, 2023, and expire at twelve o?clock noon on January 1, 2025.?

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*36**th** District Court - City of Detroit?*?

Monique Sharpe currently serves as Deputy General Counsel to the 36th District Court, a position she began in February of this year. Previously, Ms. Sharpe served as Legislative Counsel and Policy Advisor for the City of Pontiac. Additionally, she was Representative David Nathan?s Chief of Staff in the Michigan House of Representatives. She is a former member of the board of directors for the Voyageur Academy and has volunteered for voter registration drives and as a voter protection volunteer.??

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Ms. Sharpe received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Spelman College, her Master of Arts in International Politics and Economics from the University of Detroit, and her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.??

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?I am humbled and grateful to have received this appointment from Governor Whitmer,? *Sharpe *said. ?As a proud native Detroiter, I am honored to be able to serve the citizens of Detroit as a judge.???

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This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Jacquelyn A. McClinton. Ms. Sharpe?s term will commence on November 16, 2023, and expire at twelve o?clock noon on January 1, 2025.???

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