Judge Richard Wygonik

Dearborn’s 19th District Chief Judge Richard Wygonik may not have received the endorsement of Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., for his re-election (the mayor endorsed attorney Sam Salamey), but he did pick up the endorsement of former Chief Judge Leo K. Foran.

The Wygonik re-election team issued a media release touting the Foran endorsement news this week. In addition, team Wygonik said the judge would “soon release a roadmap for future court reforms.”

Foran served 34-years as chief judge of the 20th District Court and one-year as chief judge of the 19th District Court. During his  judicial career, Foran also served as a visiting judge in both Circuit Court and Recorders Court.

Wygonik’s re-election team says Foran’s endorsement comes after recent statements by opposing political campaigns that “falsely” tried to link Wygonik to the rocky tenure of former Chief Judge Mark Somers, who is the target of lawsuits by court employees. Wygonik’s election team says he is not a party to the lawsuits and, in January 2012, the Michigan Supreme Court appointed Wygonik to replace Somers.

In their news release, Team Wygonik also noted that the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct requires that candidates for judicial office “should not knowingly, or with reckless disregard, use or participate in the form of any public communication that is false.” They also provided this link HERE

“I was a chief judge for well over thirty years and made decisions concerning the administrative operations of two district courts,” Foran said. “Chief Judge Richard Wygonik is doing an excellent job. We need him to continue to guide the court through difficult times. I’m proud to endorse his reelection,” Foran said.

Wygonik thanked Foran and pledged to continue to serve as chief judge to the best of his ability.

“I’m grateful for the support of former Chief Judge Leo Foran. I’m also proud to have been appointed 19th District chief judge by the Michigan Supreme Court. I will continue to strive for greater efficiency in court operations and to work to protect the rights of those who appear before the courts,” Wygonik said.

Wygonik was appointed to the bench in 2005. Dearborn voters retained him for a full six-year term in November 2006. He is a lifetime resident of Dearborn and a graduate of Fordson High School. He received his law degree from Wayne State University after completing his undergraduate work at Henry Ford Community College and Western Michigan University. Wygonik has been a practicing attorney since 1972.