Robert Ziolkowski
Robert L. Ziolkowski was a judge for the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County, Michigan. He joined the court in 1998, following an appointment by Governor James Blanchard.[1] He was re-elected in 2002 and 2008.[2][3] His final six-year term ended on January 1, 2015.[4]
Education
Ziolkowski received his B.B.A. degree from the University of Iowa in 1967 and his J.D. degree from the Detroit College of Law in 1970.[1]
Career
Ziolkowski worked as a private practice lawyer prior to his appointment to the circuit court in 1998.[1]
Noteworthy cases
Ziolkowski's ruling gave Detroit mayor temporary relief
Judge Robert Ziolkowski ruled that the Detroit City Council did not have the legal authority to remove Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from office, shifting that power to the governor's office. According to the Detroit Free Press, Detroit's charter holds that the city council "may initiate forfeiture proceedings to remove the mayor from office if he lacks required qualifications, is convicted of a felony or violates any provision of the charter punishable by forfeiture." The Detroit City Council used that to vote to hold the forfeiture hearings in May 2008, arguing that there were three charter violations: "that the mayor used his office for private gain; that he failed to disclose a secret side deal to settle police lawsuits in return for hiding embarrassing text messages, and that he spent taxpayer money while committing a charter violation."[5]
"Council does not have the authority to go beyond the plain language of the charter," the Judge Ziolkowski said, adding that Detroit voters still have a right to recall the mayor, and the governor is able to remove the mayor for possible misconduct.[5]
Judge allows hearing against Kilpatrick to go ahead
Judge Robert Ziolkowski ruled that Governor Jennifer Granholm was allowed to hold a hearing on whether to remove Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, denying his request for a delay. The decision was in response to Granholm's petition that cited a statute in the Michigan constitution that allows the governor to remove an elected official if there is evidence that said official is guilty of misconduct. Facing charges of perjury and misconduct in office, Mayor Kilpatrick challenged the Governor's petition, citing vagueness of the statute.[6]
See also
External links
- Trial Courts Directory: Wayne County
- Council's bid to boot Kilpatrick doomed by vague charter
- CNN: Judge gives go-ahead to hearing on ousting Detroit mayor
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, "Hon. Robert L. Ziolkowski (dead link)
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2002 Election Results: 3rd Circuit Court Incumbents," December 17, 2002
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2008 Election Results: 3rd Circuit Court Incumbents," December 30, 2008
- ↑ Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, "Newsletter," January 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Detroit Free Press, "Council's bid to boot Kilpatrick doomed by vague charter," August 19, 2008
- ↑ CNN, "Judge gives go-ahead to hearing on ousting Detroit mayor," September 2, 2008
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan
State courts:
Michigan Supreme Court • Michigan Court of Appeals • Michigan Circuit Court • Michigan Court of Claims • Michigan District Courts • Michigan Municipal Courts • Michigan Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in Michigan • Michigan judicial elections • Judicial selection in Michigan