Candidate:
14A District Court Judge
J. Cedric Simpson
Nonpartisan
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J. Cedric Simpson
J. Cedric Simpson is the incumbent 14A District Court Judge running for re-election to a six-year term. He faces local attorney Thomas Bourque. Both Simpson and Bourque will automatically advance to the Nov. 6 general election.
Simpson was appointed to the bench in 1999 by Republican Gov. John Engler. He was unchallenged when he ran in 2000, 2006 and 2012. He is the only black judge serving in the Washtenaw County court system.
From 2002 to 2007, Simpson served as chief judge for the court. He currently presides over the 14A-1 District Court located at the Washtenaw County Service Center at 4133 Washtenaw Ave.
In September 2013, Simpson was accused of judicial misconduct for attempting to interfere with the arrest and subsequent investigation of his intern, who had gotten into a car accident while driving under the influence. Simpson denied any interference or wrongdoing. In 2014, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission (JTC) filed a formal complaint against Simpson for that incident and ultimately recommended that he be removed from the bench. Instead, the Michigan Supreme Court gave him a nine-month suspension without pay, from July 2017 through April 2018.
In addition to his judicial work, Simpson has been an adjunct professor at Washtenaw Community College and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Ann Arbor.
Before his appointment as judge, Simpson worked for the Ann Arbor law firm Hamilton, McDonald PC. When he later became a partner, the firm was renamed Hamilton, McDonald, & Simpson PC. His private practice focused on civil and criminal litigation and municipal ordinance enforcement, with a concentration in HUD-subsidized housing and landlord/tenant issues.
Simpson has served on boards for several civic and nonprofit groups, including the Community Action Network, the Corner Health Center, and the Peace Neighborhood Center Advisory Board.
He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a law degree from the University of Maryland.
Peter Schork, CEO of the Ann Arbor State Bank, is Simpson's campaign treasurer.
J. Cedric Simpson: In The News
Judge back on bench after suspension for interfering in drunk-driving arrest – MLive, April 27, 2018
Washtenaw County judges to pick up slack in wake of Simpson suspension – MLive, July 27, 2017
Supreme Court orders judge suspended 9 months for interfering in arrest – MLive, July 25, 2017
Judge Simpson: Black robes on the ropes – The Ann, Nov. 1, 2015
'Business as usual' at 14A-1 District Court while Supreme Court mulls Judge Simpson's fate – MLive, Sept. 8, 2015
Commission: Remove Washtenaw County judge from office – Michigan Radio, Sept. 1, 2015
Judge decides J. Cedric Simpson acted improperly during intern's arrest – MLive, April 28, 2015
Judge J. Cedric Simpson accused of lying to state judicial commission – MLive, April 2, 2015
Former intern of Judge J. Cedric Simpson says 'we just knew we could go to him' – MLive, March 31, 2015
Officer let J. Cedric Simpson at intern's arrest scene because 'he's a judge' – MLive, March 31, 2015
Hearing moved to March for judge accused of interfering with intern's arrest – MLive, Feb. 19, 2015
IMO: Washtenaw District Court Judge Responds to Ghost Accuser – Another Ann Arbor, December 2014
Judge accused of meddling after intern stopped by police – Detroit Free Press, Nov. 13, 2014
Attorney: Judge J. Cedric Simpson will fight allegations he interfered with intern's arrest – MLive, Nov. 13, 2014
Community members hold meeting to seek answers, object to Judge J. Cedric Simpson's reassignment – AnnArbor.com, July 13, 2010
Washtenaw District Judge Cedric Simpson reassigned to civil cases only – AnnArbor.com, July 6, 2010
Column: Weeding Out The Truth – The Ann Arbor Chronicle, Feb. 15, 2009
