About 100 Washtenaw County residents gathered in Arrowwood Community Center to witness six candidates for Ann Arbor mayor, Washtenaw County probate judge and Ann Arbor City Council’s First Ward participate in a forum Monday evening. The event largely centered on probate courts, city planning and land acquisitions by the University of Michigan, showcasing the candidates’ stances on impending developments for the city.
The first speakers included Alethia Battles and Jennifer Lawrence, candidates for Washtenaw County probate judge. The Washtenaw County probate judge is responsible for overseeing the county’s handling of legal matters regarding conservatorship, estates and emancipation, among other duties. Battles and Lawrence answered questions regarding probate court, the abuse of adult guardianship and restorative justice.
Battles has 30 years of clinical social work experience, and currently serves as Associate General Counsel at the University. In the past, she has also managed probate matters for Michigan Medicine. During the forum, Battles emphasized the probate court’s responsibility in adult guardianship and conservatorship cases…