LANSING, Michigan. January 24, 2018 – Lansing resident and attorney Cynthia Ward has announced her candidacy for 54-A District Court Judge. A former law professor and civil rights attorney, Ward seeks to succeed Judge Frank DeLuca upon his retirement this year. Judge DeLuca can’t seek re-election due to Michigan’s mandatory retirement age for judges. The 54-A District Court is the largest district court in Ingham County.
“I have dedicated my career to public interest lawyering and promoting access to justice,” said Ward. “I have served the citizens of Lansing with honor and distinction. My service they can trust.”
Ward, who submitted over 900 petition signatures to the State Bureau of Elections to have her name placed on the ballot for the August primary election, graduated from Villanova Law School. She has taught at Rutgers Law School-Newark and WMU Cooley Law School. She has practiced in state and federal courts in New Jersey and the district, probate and circuit courts in the tri-county area. She currently works for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Ward has received early endorsements from Lansing City Council members Dunbar, Hussain, Jackson, Spadafore, Spitzley, Washington and Wood. She also received endorsements from State Representative Tom Cochran (67th District), Ingham County Commissioners Anthony, Celentino, and Crenshaw, Ingham County Register of Deeds Derrick Quinney, and Lansing School Board member Gabrielle Lawrence. Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Amy Ronayne Krause, retired 29th Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Martlew, and retired 54-A District Court Judge Charles F. Filice have also endorsed Ward. Ward maintains a campaign office in south Lansing at 1711 W. Jolly Road. Her campaign committee is planning a kick-off event. For more information, visit cynthiawardforjudge.com.