Probate court candidates discuss their goals and experience
Isabella County voters can vote for one of two probate court judge candidates chosen by voters in the primary election on Nov. 6.
The two candidates are Sara Spencer-Noggle and Stuart Black.
Spencer-Noggle graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in political science. She also has a law degree from Michigan State University. Spencer-Noggle worked under Gov. Jennifer Granholm in the legal division after graduating law school before she went on to work at the Michigan Court of Appeals as a pre-hearing attorney.
Black graduated from Cooley Law School. He has more than a decade of experience working at the Isabella County Prosecutor’s Office.
Probate Court handles things like estate matters, adoptions and determining guardianship of those with disabilities, children, or anyone who requires a guardian.
Central Michigan Life reached out to both candidates to gain insight into their campaigns.
CM Life: What do you hope to bring to the probate court in Isabella County?
Spencer-Noggle: I am a private practice attorney and our County’s Chief Public Defender. These roles have given me insight into groups whose needs are not optimally served by our court system. Veterans are among them. As such, I would like to start a veteran’s treatment court.
I would also improve services to children with mental health issues. Currently, our county has a juvenile drug treatment court. I would enhance the program to create a track for children whose primary concern is mental health, rather than addiction.
Finally, I would address the growing number of adults with mental health issues that come into the court system. Mental illness is not a crime, but too often our criminal justice system treats it as such. I would focus on diverting people with mental health issues out of the court system and into more appropriate treatment programs. For adults who cannot be diverted, I would explore joining a regional mental health court or starting a mental health court in our county.
Black: The mental health court that I have been working on embodies what I am trying to do. For the past year, I have been working with Community Mental Health (CMH), law enforcement officers, psychologists and psychiatrists, and substance abuse providers to initiate a court that holds individuals with mental health needs accountable while also connecting them with services they need. Assisting those who are most in need versus just incarcerating them is primarily what I am about.
Why are you interested in running for a probate court position as opposed to another division?
Spencer-Noggle: The probate court hears cases involving Isabella County residents at their most vulnerable times. Whether it is a toddler who has been placed into foster care due to allegations of abuse or neglect by her parents, or a family experiencing a divorce or custody dispute, the probate judge must be fair and impartial and treat everyone equally under the law. She should also remember that, during hard times, the people in her courtroom may need a “hand up” to succeed. I am running for probate judge because I am keenly aware of the needs of people who are at their most vulnerable times. Growing up, I was one of them and I remember what it was like.
Black: The probate court, commonly known as the "helping court," serves and protects our most vulnerable citizens, including children, vulnerable adults, and individuals with mental health needs. As a father of two young boys and the lead prosecutor in abuse and neglect cases, I have a strong desire to be a voice for those whose voices are not typically heard. Although I have spent my career serving underrepresented groups (children, sexual assault victims, domestic violence victims, etc.), I know there is more that I can do from the bench to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals, children, and families.
In difficult cases, how do you balance doing the right thing with what is required by law?
Spencer-Noggle: The role of a judge is to apply the law fairly and impartially. The concept of stare decisis, which is the common law view that judicial decisions should be guided by precedent, provides guidance for most of the decisions facing judges.
Occasionally, a judge will encounter a problem that has never been faced in the court before. In those cases, the judge must have a broad capacity for empathy. Where the law has gaps and ambiguities, the judge must make a decision that derives from her own experience and common sense. Therefore, the greater the breadth of her experience, and the more developed is her ability to step outside of her own circumstances and see the law’s effects on others, the greater will be her ability to craft a solution that is fair, impartial, and appropriate under the circumstances.
Black: First and foremost, the judge has a duty to follow the law. That said, most laws leave some room for judicial discretion, which offers the judge an opportunity to make a decision or craft a sentence that follows that law and achieves justice. My twelve years with the prosecutor’s office has afforded me the experience I will need to navigate difficult cases, to balance rehabilitation and accountability. An example is my record of blending incarceration with mandatory in-patient treatment for those with substance abuse addictions - accountability for the crime, but also treatment in hopes of long-term prevention. As Probate Judge, I will treat each case as an individual case and craft a fair sentence based on all the facts.
What made you choose to run in Isabella County?
Spencer-Noggle: My family has lived in Isabella County since 1995 and we are proud to be a part of the CMU community. My husband has been a professor at CMU since 1998. I am an alumna – I have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Twenty years after I graduated, some of my former professors are now my dearest friends. Our three children, Catie, Ellie, and Lucas, love coming to work with their Dad and watching him interact with students. They also adore cheering on our Chippewa athletic teams and marching in the Homecoming parade. Isabella County is the place where we chose to raise our family and the CMU campus is our second home.
Black: Isabella County is home. My wife and I moved to Mount Pleasant more than a decade ago, bought a house, and started our family. My wife is a faculty member in the English Department at CMU, and my children attend Mount Pleasant Public Schools. Along with being a prosecutor, I also have taught law courses at CMU and volunteer coached with the parks and recreation soccer program. We love our community, love giving back to our community, and we are committed to raising our family here. As part of giving back to our community, I want to ensure that we continue to have an experienced, fair, and impartial judiciary that works for all the citizens of Isabella County.
What sets you apart from past judges and other candidates?
Spencer-Noggle: I am the only candidate with the experience to handle all of the matters that come before the probate court on day one. I am our county’s chief public defender. Like the prosecutor, I spend most of my day in a courtroom and handle probate cases involving persons with mental health issues and children who have been abused and neglected. These are difficult and important cases, but they make up only a fraction of the work of the probate court. The probate court also hears divorce and custody cases, matters involving abused and neglected adults, guardianships of children, and much more. I am the only candidate that, as an attorney in private practice, has experience in these types of matters.
Black: First, I think we have to recognize that Judge Ervin has done an outstanding job as probate judge. My goal is to build on the solid foundation that he has established. When looking at what sets me apart from the other candidate, it is my track record of actively working to resolve the tough issues. While many candidates support the idea of a mental health court, I have already taken action by coordinating a community-wide effort to make our plans a reality. I have spent my career fighting for children and families as the lead prosecutor in abuse and neglect cases. I have also spent my career prosecuting heroin and meth dealers and working to rehabilitate those with substance abuse issues. Action today equals a healthier tomorrow and that mentality is what I will bring to the bench.
