To the Journal editor:

This year’s elections are very important. We need to elect people who really care about us. I got to meet Michigan’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh and Justice Noah Hood recently during their tour of the Upper Peninsula. It is clear they care a lot about the people they serve.

Both are strong supporters of problem-solving courts. Why should this matter to you? If you know anyone who has to go to court for a nonviolent offense – child and family, mental health and/or substance use issues – it matters! They are both committed to ensuring everyone has a qualified lawyer to represent them and to focus on treatment and social support rather than jail time.

Justice Cavanagh has worked hard for children and families and for greater coordination with tribal courts, and Justice Hood’s passion is helping veterans. They have both been endorsed for re-election by labor (AFL-CIO, Carpenters & Millwrights and the UAW) and cared enough to come to the U.P. and speak to us. Just to hear them talk, you can tell they really care. So please make your vote count and support Justices Cavanagh and Hood for re-election. It matters.