Oxford attorney Frederick J. Miller is on a mission to ‘restore faith in the judiciary system? by running against the controversial 52-2 District Judge Dana Fortinberry.
‘The present district judge has some serious problems,? said Miller, who resides in Brandon Township, but has been practicing law in Oxford since 1990. ‘She’s rated as one of the three worst judges in the country by Reader’s Digest (August 2006). I think I can do better.?
Miller has until April 29 to collect a minimum of 600 signatures on his nominating petition to run in the Aug. 5 primary election against Fortinberry and fellow challenger attorney Joseph G. Fabrizio.
‘I’ve got close to that,? he said. ‘You can file up to 1,000 (signatures). I plan to get 1,000.?
Located in Clarkston, the 52-2 District Court encompasses Brandon, Groveland, Holly, Independence, Rose, Springfield and White Lake townships, the villages of Ortonville and Holly and the City of the Village of Clarkston.
Backed by 21 years experience, Miller specializes in criminal law as both a defense attorney at the capital level and as an assistant prosecutor for Oxford Village and Addison Township.
Locally, he routinely deals with ordinance violations, drunk driving and traffic tickets at the 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills, which is one of the busiest courts in the state.
‘I’ve dealt with all sorts of district court matters,? said the 1987 graduate of the University of Detroit Law School. ‘I’ve done thousands of traffic tickets, drunk driving cases, all of the standard district court stuff. I know the district court workings very well.?
Outside of criminal law, Miller has experience with family law, juvenile law, civil litigation, real estate and estate planning.
‘I like working with people, trying to help them out,? he said. ‘It can be very satisfying and very frustrating, but you do the best you can for your clients.?
As a district court mediator for 15 years and a court-approved family law mediator, Miller is no stranger to dealing with both sides of an issue.
‘I work well with people,? he said. ‘I’ve dealt with difficult clients, difficult situations. I can handle them well.?
Miller, who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, believes a good judge must have an ‘even temperament,? the ability to make decisions in a timely manner and ultimately be able ‘to figure out what’s best for everyone involved.?
A good judge, in Miller’s opinion, must also have ‘ability to let people talk, but not let them ramble on forever? and be able ‘to admit you can make mistakes.?
Miller’s campaign will focus on bringing integrity and fiscal responsibility to the 52-2 District Court, which has been portrayed in a negative light due to Fortinberry’s actions.
In January 2006, Fortinberry received a public censure from the Michigan Supreme Court for inappropriate conduct.
Fortinberry insinuated in a July 2004 letter to the Oakland County Deputy Sheriff’s Association that there was foul play in the death of Judith Kostin, the former wife of Bob Kostin, who is fellow 52-2 District Judge Kelley Kostin’s current husband. The death was ruled a suicide and there was no evidence to prove otherwise.
Prior to entering the legal profession, Miller trained to be a teacher. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Michigan State University.
Miller worked as an educator for the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1978-81. He taught middle school for one year at the Wounded Knee School District in South Dakota and two years at an Eskimo Village on the Bering Sea in Alaska.
Miller has been married to his wife, Nancy, for five years. He has three children, including a daughter who attends Oxford High School, and one grandchild.