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Rudy Serra has done a perfectly credible job since Gov. Granholm appointed him to the bench two years ago. Ronald Giles, 50, is a longtime Detroit lawyer and activist who has run several times for the 3rd Circuit and would be an excellent judge. But there is no compelling reason to replace Serra, who is running to complete a term that expires in 2008. RUDY SERRA deserves to finish his term.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association (DMBA) has again rated Judge RUDY SERRA the OUTSTANDING choice for 36th District Court. DMBA also rated Serra OUTSTANDING in the Primary.

“Once again my opponent chose not to let his peers evaluate his qualifications to be Judge” Said Serra. “I am proud of my DMBA rating. This is the organization of lawyers who know my court best. Their rating is particularly meaningful.”

Tuesday, October 15, 2006
On October 15, 2006, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) voted to endorse JUDGE RUDY SERRA for 36th District Court. Serra is running to keep the job to which he was appointed by Governor Granholm more than 2 years ago. AAPAC’s mission is the advance the interests of the entire Arab American community.

“Arab Americans are an important part of my community” Judge Serra commented “I have read the Quran and the Bible, and I am honored that the members of the AAPAC committee recognize that I am a judge who treats people fairly without regard to their religion or ethnicity.”

Wednesday, October 4, 2006
The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Ministerial Alliance of Southeast Michigan has voted to endorse Judge Rudy Serra for 36th District Court. “AME churches have congregations all over the city” Judge Serra remarked “and their endorsement is important. This church has always been active in civil rights and their support says a great deal about my record on that issue.”

The Detroit Policed Officers Association (DPOA) has also joined the Police Officer’s Association of Michigan in endorsing Serra. “I’m proud that law enforcement officers state-wide, as well as the local officers who come to my court, agree that I have earned the opportunity to finish my term” commented the Judge. “I also have the support of most of the defense attorneys who practice at the 36th District Court. I guess I have managed to make both sides equally unhappy so that they can both support me.”

Judge Rudy Serra will be on the non-partisan ballot on November 7th.

Friday, September 22, 2006
Judge Rudy Serra received the endorsement of The Michigan Trial Lawyer’s Association (MTLA). Serra is running in November 2006 to keep his job on the 36th District Court. “MTLA members are litigation experts who represent the victims of injury and civil rights violations. Trial Lawyers are the best qualified attorneys to evaluate trial judges. I am very proud to add the MTLA endorsement to the list of others I have already received.”

Monday, September 11, 2006
Judge RUDY SERRA has been endorsed by The Police Officer’s Association of Michigan (POAM) and the Association of Government Administrators (AGA).

The POAM represents “the every day cop on the street” including patrol officers. The AGA represents the civil servants who organize the court dockets and take care of assignments and the day-to-day operation of the 36th District Court. Serra is running on the non-partisan ballot to keep his job as Judge on the 36th District Detroit.

“This is an especially appreciated endorsement” Judge Serra said. “The Police Officers are involved with the court every day. Along with the fire fighters, who endorsed me previously, they are the first responder’s team. As more Americans realize the importance and the challenges of their work, the importance of their support is also amplified. They know the importance of team work, fairness and order.”

Judge Serra went on to explain that “The endorsement of the Administrators has important implications too. They operate the court and they know the inside information about how all the judges work. The people who run our departments know if a judge is an asset or not. I want every Detroiter to know how proud I am to have the support of both organizations.”

Serra now has the support of both Detroit’s Democratic Congressional Districts as well as their Congresspersons. He has been endorsed by the UAW, AFL-CIO, Operating Engineers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Mayor, the Prosecutor, the County Executive, City Council President and hundreds of other judges, legislators, commissioners, ministers and community leaders.

Saturday, September 9, 2006
Judge RUDY SERRA was endorsed by the 14th Congressional District Democratic Party organization on Saturday, September 9th, in an overwhelming vote. A few delegates tried to ram through a slate that would have endorsed Judge Serra’s only remaining opponent. The district had endorsed another “favorite son” candidate in the Primary.

“A few people told me it was a done deal” Serra commented. “I told them that I planned to undo their deal.”

Serra said: “I got this job because I am the Democratic choice for Judge in Detroit. I’m delighted that the 14th District has joined the 13th and the rest of the party to support Judge Rudy Serra.”

Serra said he personally called upon over a hundred of the delegates himself before the Saturday vote and that he had lobbied hundreds of others last weekend. “I need the support of every precinct delegate in November and hope to continue building on that support to defeat proposal 2 and make Detroit a better place to live and work.”

Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Judge Rudy Serra has been endorsed by Local 547 and Local 324 of The Operating Engineers union.

“I am delighted to report this particular endorsement” Judge Serra said “because I believe the Operating Engineers were a key to the election of Justice Kelly in 1996.”

Serra commented that, “Phil Schloop, and the Operating Engineers have been on the right side of school district contract issues. They continue to advocate for changes, like contracts that benefit Detroiters instead of school board member’s campaigns. I am honored to have the support of the Operating Engineers.”

Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The State Court Administrators Office released statistic on August 18th that are interesting. During 2003 (the year before Judge Rudy Serra was appointed to the 36th District Court) that court had a “clearance rate” of 67%. The clearance rate is the rate at which cases are resolved. In 2004, after Rudy Serra became Judge, the clearance rate rose to 95% and remained at that level in 2005.

Thursday, August 24, 2006
The Wolverine Bar Association has rated Judge Rudy Serra of the 36th District Court in Detroit “WELL QUALIFIED” to keep his job as Judge. The Wolverine Bar Association is one of the pre-eminent voluntary Bar Associations in America and was started in order to represent the interests of African-American lawyers and judges.

Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Judge Rudy Serra was endorsed today by Wayne County Commission Chairperson Jewel Ware. Serra was Ware’s constituent for a decade or more when he lived on Parker in Detroit, and the two have known one another since Serra was a County Commissioner in 1990.

Sunday, July 30, 2006
Judge Rudy Serra has been endorsed by Wayne County Register of Deeds Bernard Youngblood. In making the endorsement Youngblood referred to Serra as “an outstanding member of the bench.”

Serra Endorsed by Fire Fighters and More
Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Judge Rudy Serra of Detroit’s 36th District Court has been endorsed by The Detroit Fighters Association. Serra is running in August and November to keep the job he has had for two years as Judge.

Five people are running against Serra, who is the only candidate with two years of successful experience. Judge Serra was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician before going to graduate school and is also a Licensed Social Worker. He has more than two decades of experience as an attorney fighting for civil rights.

“The 36th District Court sees too many arson cases” Judge Serra remarked “and fire fighters are the ones whose lives are endangered and who have to gather the evidence and come to court. I’m proud to have the support of these ‘first responders.’ They know about duty. We’re telling every Detroiter that it’s their duty to vote -- and to vote the non-partisan ballot -- and to vote based on who is best for the job. When you vote, please do your duty – vote to keep Judge Rudy.”

Community Coalition Cheers Serra
Friday, July 21, 2006

District Judge Rudy Serra won favorable reviews after a candidate forum on Thursday, July 20th, at Plymouth Congregation Church.

Serra emphasized his history fighting to defend civil rights and the fact that he is the only candidate with experience as a Judge.

Another candidate used part of her time to sing a gospel song. A second perennial candidate repeatedly told the audience that the election is “not about qualifications.” He didn’t say what the election IS about, but he also announced to the audience that he is African American.

Finally, a former Magistrate claimed that while there are 31 judges and only 5 magistrates at the court, the magistrates “do 80% of the work.” Serra disagreed and said that he would defend the integrity of the court.

“Magistrates handle lots of parking tickets” said Judge Serra “but no one else running for this job has experience as a Judge. No one else ever presided over a jury trial, held a preliminary examination in a murder case or sentenced a guilty criminal. I am the only candidate with proven experience as a judge.”

Serra noted that many of his endorsers, including Senator Martha Scott, Senator Irma Clark Coleman, Judge Deborah Geraldine Ford and Judge Mark Randon were present.

When another candidate disclaimed moving into Detroit “to get the job” Serra noted he had been a Detroiter for years and that his supporters “would not endorse me if I wasn’t best for the job. No one who knows Detroit politics can claim I’m some sort of new-comer. Those who know the court, like Chief Judge Marylin Atkins (who endorsed me) know that I do my job well.”

Serra Rated "Outstanding" by Bar Association
Monday, July 24, 2006

Judge Rudy Serra was rated “Outstanding,” the highest possible rating, by the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association. Serra was the only candidate to get the highest rating.

The Bar Association stated: “To be rated ‘outstanding’ an individual must stand at the top of their profession and must rank among the very best qualified judges or lawyers available for judicial service. This candidate must have outstanding legal ability and background, as well as wide experience, wisdom, intellect, insight and impartiality.”

In response to the rating Judge Serra said “I am extremely honored that those who know the court and the judges best – the lawyers – agree that I am among the best Judges on the job and that I should keep my job.”

One of Serra’s opponent was rated “not qualified” while two others refused to allow their peers to even consider whether were qualified to be judge.

THIS RELEASE IS FROM THE JUDGE RUDY SERRA COMMITTEE AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY GOVERNMENT UNIT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT FRED DURHAL AT (313) 574-6599 OR Judge Rudy Serra at (313) 331-RUDY