Judge Michael Smith of the Hillsdale County Circuit Court has recently announced that he will not seek reelection and Hillsdale County District Court Judge Sara S. Lisznyai subsequently announced her candidacy to fill Smith’s vacancy.
Smith will resign after the end of his current term, which expires December 31, 2020.
Lisznyai is currently the only candidate running for the position and has the broad support of Hillsdale County’s judicial body, including Smith.
Smith, who will be 66 when he retires in 2020, spoke about his reasons for leaving the bench.
“Age,” Smith said. “In retirement, I’ll travel, spend time with my grandchildren, coach some of their athletic teams, and volunteer at their local elementary school.”
Smith spent 24 years in public service to the people of Hillsdale County and said he is content to leave public life at this time.
“I appreciate the cooperation and support of the people of Hillsdale County, and look forward to serving them soon in a different capacity,” Smith said.
Lisznyai, first elected in 2014, attended Eastern Michigan University for her undergraduate years and received her Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School in 1990.
She began her private law practice in 1990 and moved to Hillsdale in 1996 where she continued to practice until being elected to the District Court in 2014.
Lisznyai said she has gained relevant experience for the circuit court through her past and current positions in the legal field.
“During my experience in private practice, I spent a lot of time working in the circuit court,” Lisznyai said. “I’m very familiar with the civil litigation and family law they operate in.”
Lisznyai spoke about her tenure on the Hillsdale County District Court as well. She said she formed the Hillsdale County Drug Court in 2017 in order to help Hillsdale residents at the height of the opioid crisis.
“Hillsdale was really hit hard,” Lisznyai said. “The drug court was established to avoid incarceration through treatment and rehabilitation.”
The participants of the program were described by Lisznyai as having to “attend meetings, hold a job, do community service, and submit to drug tests.”
Lisznyai said her experiences working in criminal law and in the district court has prepared her for the circuit court. “I’m very humbled by the strong showing of support,” Lisznyai said.
Local Attorney Andrew Fink, who has worked in Lisznyai’s District Court before, expressed admiration for her temperament.
“Judge Lisznyai is very patient and helpful,” Fink said. “There are methods by which a judge can add friction to a case, and Judge Lisznyai doesn’t do that at all.”
Describing Lisznyai’s time on the district court, Fink explained that the district court operates directly underneath the circuit court Lisznyai is running for.
“She’s touched everything the circuit court has to deal with in her current position,” Fink said.“She has the best experience possible for the job, and a great temperament.”
