One man will get left in the dust when the voters of Washtenaw County choose two out of three candidates to sit on the bench of the 22nd Circuit Court.
Two candidates, Judges Donald Sheldon and Patrick Conlin, are up for re-election, while newcomer Peter Collins is trying to grab one of two positions for a six-year term.
Sheldon, who graduated from the University Law School, was a practicing attorney in Ann Arbor for 20 years before being appointed to the bench by former Gov. James Blanchard in 1990. He was then elected to the bench later that year.
"I became a judge because I saw it as an opportunity to have an impact on people's lives," Sheldon said. "It is an emotional and intellectual challenge to try to change people's lives for the better every day."
Collins, a 1970 graduate of Western Michigan University Law School, said the position carries with it a certain weight.
"There are few positions that have more direct impact on the lives of individual citizens," Collins said. "I think it is the most important work I can do."
After graduation, Collins worked as a federal clerk until 1972, when he went into private practice as an attorney.
Conlin, who has lived in Ann Arbor his entire life and graduated from the University Law School in 1961, has sat on the bench since 1972.
"I have such a vast array of experience, substantially more than any judge in Washtenaw County," Conlin said. "I was the youngest judge ever elected in Washtenaw County."
Sheldon said he relies on his professional training and sense of "rightness" in the world to do his job fairly. He said his duty is to "do the right thing and if the right thing were easy, the job wouldn't be as challenging as it is. It's supposed to be hard."
Each candidate emphasized the importance of being fair.
"That is always paramount in my mind," Conlin said. "I must be fair to everybody."
Collins agreed. The "greatest requirement I think is to be absolutely impartial in those cases that come before the court," he said.
Sheldon, who has had "more of my share of high-profile cases," said he is dedicated to making sure everyone receives a fair trial and that nothing gets in the way.
"That's what equal justice is supposed to be about," Sheldon said.
Collins said he has several qualities that would make him fit for the position.
"I work hard, I'm a consensus builder, I have extensive management experience with attorneys, I am knowledgeable in the law and I have absolute impartiality," Collins said.