Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Janey Lamar and her Senior Adviser DeJoiry McKenzie-Simmons. Janey reflected on the challenges she has faced as a young Black woman in the legal profession, and how she hopes to become the first Black woman elected to the circuit court bench in Saginaw County history!
It was an amazing conversation filled with laughs, honesty, and hope for the future of the city of Saginaw, MI. I hope you are blessed by what you read, and I encourage you to head over to janeyforjudge.com to learn more about the potential 10th Circuit Judge of Saginaw County.
Enjoy!
Tell our readers a little about yourself and your time growing up in Saginaw.
-Who were the most influential people in your life?
-What were the most important lessons you learned growing up in this area?
I am Janey Lamar, a Saginaw High School and SASA grad who went to Michigan State University after graduation and later received my Law Degree from Loyola New Orleans University School of Law.
My mother is Camela Lamar Jordan, who ran a non-profit for inner-city youth that focused on preventing teen pregnancy and violence. My grandmother is Patricia Lamar. She was the Queen mother of the Saginaw African festival, and a bold community leader who had a powerful presence in the church.
I always knew I would be sharing my mother and grandmother with other children because of their beautiful spirits and noble causes. They both embodied the spirit of service, and I inherited it from them. They sowed the seed of mentorship and community development within my heart and encouraged me to be an active participant in shaping my community.
What first inspired your decision to pursue a career in law? Why family law specifically?
Because of how invested my mother and grandmother were, I realized that I could replicate their impact in many different career paths. Originally, I wanted to be a social worker or teacher, because of their potential to positively influence and mentor young lives, but while working in the child welfare field, I always took on cases with especially at-risk families. I witnessed domestic violence, substance abuse, child neglect, and many other heartbreaking circumstances.
These cases often brought me to court to advocate for my clients. Sadly, I was extremely limited in what I could do for the families I worked with. These limitations encouraged me to pursue a career in law to advocate for the families in my community fully. After completing law school, my focus stayed on the rights of children, so I went back to work in the child welfare field for a few more years.
My fiancé and I recently watched "On the Basis of Sex". We learned how the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dealt with the expectations of a woman in her era while relentlessly pursuing her passion to be an advocate of justice, all while loving and supporting her family.
With that in mind, have you experienced any difficulties as a black woman in law?
Women of color make up a small percentage of the legal profession, and I've spoken often about diversity, equity, and inclusion in this field. It's a tough conversation, but some of those barriers include - lack of mentorship or allyship, unconscious and conscious biases, and a lack of awareness that diverse experiences and identities are needed in this profession. There have always been qualified women available for these roles, but there has still been very little representation of women at the judicial level.
Nobody is championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in Saginaw's Judiciary, and I want to change that! On the state level, Justice Elizabeth Welsch is leading the charge of opening up her office to break down racial and gender-based barriers to positions. I want to bring this same energy and impact to the Saginaw County Judiciary.
Early in my career, I didn't have anyone to talk to about my cases or about my experiences as a young black woman in law. I had to learn things on my own. If elected, I absolutely want to show Saginaw that diversity is something to be embraced, and as the first African American woman to be elected to Saginaw County Judiciary, I will show young aspiring women lawyers that it's possible. I will open my doors to the community, be transparent and approachable, and do everything I can to ensure things are better for the next generation of black women in the legal profession.
How have you balanced the demands of your career as an attorney with your personal life?
The last few years have been non-stop busy! Earlier in my career, I thought I found a balance between my work life, spending time with family and friends, and taking care of my health, but during this campaign, I have struggled to find a sustainable balance. It's very easy to neglect my health and my personal time, but I am making a promise to myself to prioritize my health!
Describe the responsibilities of the 10th circuit court judge and how you plan to honor these responsibilities.
The person elected to the bench will preside primarily over the family docket, at least for the first 2 years. They will deal with divorce, custody, child support, and other related topics.
If elected as the new 10th District Circuit Court Judge, I plan to:
- Do extensive research to make informed and unbiased rulings
- Make decisions that are grounded in law, not in personal feelings
- And be aware of the influence that my decisions have on families
What is an experience that challenged you as a young lawyer and how did you overcome it?
There was this case when I represented a client in a challenging Change of Domicile case. Change of Domicile in the family courts usually deals with a parent who wants to move their child out of state. These cases are incredibly challenging because there are a lot of stipulations that must be met before a parent can bring their child out of state
In my client's case, the parents shared joint physical custody, and by adhering to the law, I was able to communicate that neither parent could deprive the other of access to the child. Knowing the facts and the law helped me provide relief to my client, who feared they would no longer be able to see their child.
It's challenging when a parent wants to make decisions regarding their children that are not lawful, but it is the job of the legal advocate to do what is lawful, what is right, and what is in the best interest of the child and family.
Why are you the right person for the role?
I am the right person because I have a demonstrated track record of success in child welfare advocacy and family law with over a decade of service to families and children.
Our community needs someone who understands the issues of families, and who will ensure that parents and families have access to resources. While working in child welfare, and as a lawyer, I kept a book of resources for families so that if they experienced violence or substance abuse, they knew where to get help. The court can also help parents find and utilize resources to effectively co-parent, which is crucial for the healthy development of children in split households.
I know how to help parents before, during, and after court. I've been in the mud with parents, and I know what it takes to ensure the families in Saginaw are strong and supported, and that our children have what they need to be healthy, brilliant, and successful!
Fun questions!
- Favorite Movies?
House Party (original), Nobody's Fool, and The Avengers - I love Thor!
- What do you enjoy doing in your limited free time?
Since starting the campaign, there has been very little “me-time”. I'm either in the community campaigning or at work all day. At the very least, I ensure that I can stop and breathe, and enjoy 30 minutes to an hour of quiet time every day.
How can people support your campaign?
You can support me by voting for me on August 2nd. This is a non-partisan race, so be intentional and do not just vote straight ticket. Please review the entire ballot! (I am on the back of the ballot)
*** A word from DeJoiry McKenzie-Simmons, Senior Advisor to Janey Lamar
"You can donate, volunteer, and vote! We will need the community to stand up and stand by Janey Lamar. This is the first time a black woman has had a chance to sit on the Judiciary in Saginaw County History!"
Learn more by visiting https://www.janeyforjudge.com/
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