4 vying for judge seat
By KIM HOYUM, Journal Staff WriterArticle Photos
Timothy A. Quinnell joined the race by filing state paperwork in early April.
Judge John R. Weber’s term expires Jan. 1, 2009. The 71-year-old judge is restricted by law from running again due to his age. The term of election is six years.
Quinnell, 51, currently is a partner with Osstyn, Ferns and Quinnell of Marquette.
He is a graduate of Marquette Senior High School, Northern Michigan University, and Detroit College of Law. He has practiced general law in Marquette since 1988, and is a member of the state bar’s family law, criminal law and elder law sections.
“I learned early on that the best judges are both knowledgeable and fair. This is particularly true in domestic relations litigation involving minor children,” Quinnell said in his campaign statement. “Parental emotions run high, and a judge must have judicial temperament such that both sides can be heard and considered, and then helped by the judge to cooperate in raising their children the best they can, even in the highly charged atmosphere of a divorce or custody proceeding.”
Chief Circuit Judge Thomas Solka has told candidates the election will be to the family court bench, as he takes over Weber’s duties on the criminal and non-family civil bench. Circuit court staff confirmed the expected reassignment of duties.
The family division of the circuit court oversees divorce, paternity and family support cases, along with some other cases.
Quinnell said in his campaign statement he also has the benefit of growing up in a family atmosphere of respect for the law and its goals.
His grandfather, George Quinnell, and father, Edward Quinnell, both were longstanding Marquette attorneys. Edward Quinnell also was a Marquette County Circuit Court judge for 24 years.
“They never preached around the supper table, but there was never any doubt about their commitment to being helpful. I like to believe that the same commitment has rubbed off on me,” Quinnell said.
Three other candidates have declared. Attorney Karl Weber, 44, of Marquette, is Judge Weber’s son, and the managing partner of the Marquette office of Plunkett Cooney. 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.
Marquette County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer A. Mazzuchi, 37, has been an assistant prosecutor 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.
Attorney Kevin Koch, 56, currently has a general private legal practice in Negaunee, and represents a number of townships in Marquette County. He has experience in family law and has been a special assistant attorney general in workers’ compensation cases in the Upper Peninsula.
