For the first time in 36 years, the district court seat has opened in Hillsdale County after the announcement of Judge Donald Sanderson’s retirement in February.
Only two local attorneys, Prosecutor Neal Brady of Hillsdale and General Practitioner Sara Lisznyai of Jonesville, declared their candidacy, forgoing the need for a primary election.
For 18 years, Lisznyai has practiced law in the county at her own law firm in Jonesville, Michigan. She practiced in Wayne County for six years prior to her career in Hillsdale County.
“In the Detroit area, you’re more likely to specialize in an area of law,” Lisznyai said. “But in a small town there’s not enough work to only practice divorce or real estate. I’m a general practitioner. I do criminal cases, divorce, real estate, contracts, you name it — I have experience doing that.”
Among the cases seen in the district court are civil cases under $25 thousand, small claims, traffic violations, and misdemeanors punishable up to a year.
“I had never presumed that I should run,” Lisznyai said. “It was really more people coming to me, ‘you need to do this.’ The people who know are saying that I should be the one.”
