John Weber to retire
By KIM HOYUM, Journal Staff WriterArticle Photos
Current Judge John R. Weber’s term expires Jan. 1. The 71-year-old judge is restricted by law from running again due to his age.
Attorney Karl Weber, 44, of Marquette, is Judge Weber’s son, and filed his candidacy with the Michigan Secretary of State Feb. 8. Marquette County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer A. Mazzuchi, 37, filed her candidacy Feb. 12.
Both announced their campaigns last week.
Karl Weber currently is the managing partner of the Marquette office of Plunkett Cooney, a multi-state law firm, according to his campaign.
“I am dedicated to this profession and I feel that my 18 years of legal and judicial experience uniquely qualifies me for this position,” Weber said in a press release. “I believe that this important court is not for the judges, not for the lawyers, but for the people.”
He has served as the chief judge for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Court of Appeals, and as an assistant state attorney general. He also does mediation for legal disputes in circuit court, according to his campaign.
Mazzuchi has been an assistant prosecutor for Marquette County for 11 years, and previously worked for three years as a defense lawyer in civil litigation. She currently specializes in cases involving abused and neglected children.
“I have lots of experience doing trial work, and lots of public service,” Mazzuchi said. “I’ve got a good understanding of what qualities we need in a judge, and I think I can offer the citizens excellent service.”
Weber is originally from Negaunee, where he graduated from Negaunee High School. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. His community activities include having served on Northern Michigan University’s Board of Trustees, and on the board of directors for the Marquette Community Foundation, the Marquette-Alger Youth Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce. He currently is a bank director for Range Bank, and serves on St. Peter Cathedral’s finance committee.
Mazzuchi was raised in Marquette, and graduated from Marquette Senior High School. She received her undergraduate degree from the Honors Program of the University of Michigan, and graduated magna cum laude from Wayne State University Law School, where she also served on the Wayne Law Review. Her community activities include membership on the United Way Leadership Committee, the Habitat for Humanity board of directors, and the Child Abuse and Neglect Council. She also is a member of St. Peter Cathedral. In the past, she has served on the Marquette Board of Light and Power, the Domestic Violence Coalition of Marquette, and the Marquette Breakfast Rotary.
Both live in Marquette with their families.
The filing deadline for other candidates seeking the judgeship is April 29. Three other local attorneys, Joe Lavey, Tim Quinnell and Kevin Koch, have picked up petitions from the Marquette County Clerk — the first step in the process of becoming a candidate — but had not filed as of Friday.
The candidates will appear on Marquette County ballots when the state holds its August primary before the November general election.
All other elected county positions are also then open: the Marquette County prosecutor, sheriff, clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, mine inspector and drain commissioner.
“Every county office is up for election,” said Marquette County Clerk Connie Branam. She has filed as an incumbent for the clerk office. Other incumbents who have filed are: treasurer Anne Giroux, mine inspector John Carlson, and prosecutor Gary Walker. All nine county commission seats also will be up for election, Branam said. Candidates have until May 13 to file for any of those seats.
