Kromkowski

Attorney,
Domestic Relations Referee,
Domestic Relations Mediator,
Collaborative Divorce Professional,
Your friend, your neighbor

You are in a unique position to elect a candidate who has judicial experience.

In choosing any professional we look to their qualifications concerning services we wish them to provide. My experiences on the bench, in family and criminal law and as a mediator are the strong and most relevant assets I bring to the position of Leelanau Probate Judge.

A judge conducts hearings and issues court orders. As a Domestic Relations Referee for 17 years I have conducted 1000’s of hearings, and issued 1000’s of court orders in exactly the areas handled by a probate court. I listen to all sides, determine credibility, manage high-level conflict and develop a methodology to apply the law to the facts.

A judge also establishes local court procedures. 95% of all cases settle before trial. The question is how well they settle. I have made court processes more understandable and user friendly. I have been a pioneer in Alternative Dispute Resolution. I was the first local attorney trained in domestic relations mediation. I spearheaded efforts to have lawyers, mental health professionals and financial planners work together with families going through divorce. I have served on our local ADR committee, volunteered at the Conflict Resolution Service, trained other mediators and am now on the state board of the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan. I am active in the State Bar Family Law, Children’s Law and ADR Sections and the Leelanau County Family Coordinating Council. I annually engage in continuing legal education. For 31 years I have provided court appointed trial and/or appellate services for indigent criminal defendants in District, Circuit, Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Courts. I helped revise procedures for the criminal docket of our local Circuit Court and wrote a procedural manual for court appointed criminal attorneys. I have lectured on pre-trial preparation and sentencing and act as a consultant.

This is a non-partisan election. Some have attempted to politicize it. As a private citizen I have expressed views on our federal government openly and clearly in our local newspapers. I have now spoken with thousands in Leelanau County. A mere handful had questions regarding “active in peace and justice efforts” in my campaign literature. Speaking out on issues of war and peace come with a price. “Freedom isn’t Free.” My courage to express my opinions outside of court and my ability to do so with composure and without name calling or personal attacks are desirable qualities for a firm, but fair judge. With the endorsement of 70 lawyers, 22 judicial officers and the recently retired Probate Registrar you will be hard pressed to find any reasonable person who would say I have infused my political views into any law-related responsibilities.

My husband is Matthew Leland Posner; our daughters are Esther, Claire and Ellen Posner. My husband’s family came to Northport in 1947. My history here began in 1980. Suttons Bay is our home. My career choices, community involvement and our strong and lasting roots qualify me for Leelanau Probate Judge.

Kromkowski Credentials Match the Needs of the Job
Judges conduct court hearings and issues court orders according to the law.
As a Domestic Relations Referee for 17 years, I have conducted 1000’s of hearings, and issued 1000’s of court orders. The hearings I do comprise the largest part of a Probate Judge’s docket.

Judges establish local court procedures.
I have worked on court procedures by drafting local referee hearing and PPO procedures, re-writing self-help forms for custody, parenting time and support motions, revising procedures for the criminal docket of our local Circuit Court, writing our local Circuit Family Law Bench Book and a procedural manual for court appointed criminal attorneys and organizing the first Domestic Relations Mediator training for area lawyers.

Judges set the tone for the courtroom.
Court is a place of conflict. I am known for my calm temperament and thoughtfulness. My extensive mediation training and experience have greatly improved my ability to listen, discuss and explore options that solve rather than exacerbate problems.

Judges interact with state wide judiciary.
I am active in both local and state-wide in efforts to improve the administration of justice: Family, Children and Probate Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections of Michigan Bar Association; Referee Association of Michigan; Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan; Michigan Association of Court Mediators; Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan; International Academy of Collaborative Professionals; Task Force on Domestic Violence; and State Bar of Michigan Committee on Criminal Justice Delivery Systems.
STRONG CREDENTIALS FOR AN IMPORTANT POSITION

Marian Kromkowski is a caring, level-headed, approachable and responsible member of the Leealanu community. She knows the difference between a public servant and a politician.

Marian Kromkowski is the only candidate with any experience hearing and deciding the kinds of cases that are heard in Probate Court. For 17 years she has been a Domestic Relations Referee managing a Family Court docket and hearing trials similar to those of a Probate Judge. She was the first Domestic Relations Referee selected in Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim counties. She is presently a Domestic Relations Referee in Wexford and Missaukee counties. She has decided thousands of family related cases since 1993 with prompt, fair and well-explained decisions.

Marian Kromkowski has family law and dispute resolution experience. She has broad competence unequaled by any other candidate. She was the first attorney trained as a Domestic Relations Mediator in Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim counties. She has concluded over 300 mediations. She is an innovator and encourages parties to discuss and fashion their own solutions. She is professional and treats everyone with dignity, compassion and respect.

Marian Kromkowski has criminal law trial and appellate experience. She has extensive court room experience. She has represented clients of all ages in misdemeanor, felony and capital cases. She has represented indigent clients throughout her 31 years of legal practice and has practiced in many circuits, the Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. She works hard for her clients.

You trust Marian Kromkowski as a judicial referee, mediator and lawyer. She knows the law and conducts trials efficiently and calmly. She focuses on the issues and follows the law without fear or favor. Whether hearing complex trials, mediating contentious divorces or representing individuals, she is fair, firm and respectful of everyone.

Marian Kromkowski should be your choice for Leelanau County Probate Judge.

MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE:
More from Marian, Candidate for Leelanau County Probate Judge

My 17 years as a Domestic Relations Referee highly qualifies me for Leelanau Probate Judge. I was the first Referee in Leelanau, Grand Traverse and Antrim Counties and continue that position in the 28th Circuit Court. A referee is a judicial officer managing a Family Court docket and conducting trials and motion hearings, similar to the responsibilities of a probate judge. My extensive experience in family and criminal law at the trial and appellate level and my mediation and collaborative law focus on problem solving are strong and relevant assets. Also important is my commitment to human rights, respect of the individual and acknowledgment of individual responsibility, and dedication to assisting parties in conflict to find acceptable solutions to their concerns.

Probate Court is also responsible for cases from the Family Division of Circuit Court. Whether it is wills, estates or guardianships, juvenile criminal matters, assisting the mentally infirm or custody, parenting time and child support, Probate/Family Court serves the most vulnerable in our county when they are in crisis. Most disputes resolve short of a trial; those that do go on to trial are highly emotional and contentious. My judicial referee experience, calm temperament and careful application of the Constitution and Michigan statutes has readied me to these conduct trials in a respectful, efficient and focused manner.

Matthew Posner is my husband and law partner, both for nearly 30 years. His family has enjoyed ties to beautiful Leelanau County since 1947. We have raised three great daughters, Esther, Claire and Ellen, in Suttons Bay. Esther completed an internship at the Smithsonian Institute this past summer and has now graduated with a geology degree at Grand Valley State University with plans for grad school at the University of Arizona this fall; Claire graduated from Macalester College in 2008 with a degree in Sociology and Political Science and is teaching English in Japan through early 2011; and Ellen worked extremely hard this past summer as the Youth Corp leader at the Leelanau Conservancy. She has returned for her junior year studying marine biology at the University of Hawaii.

I have countless professional and social connections to Leelanau County and the broader greater Traverse City area, spanning the legal, environmental, school, farming and art communities. My career choices, public service and community involvement and our family’s strong and lasting roots in Leelanau County qualify me for Leelanau County Probate Judge. Serving the people of Leelanau County would be an honor.

Professional and Community Accomplishments

I have been a Domestic Relations Referee since 1993. A Domestic Relations Referee is chosen by the Chief Judge of Circuit Court. We conduct trials and motion hearings, follow the rules of evidence, hear from witnesses, submit court orders and explain our rulings to the litigants. We are judicial officers bound by the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct. I was the first Domestic Relations Referee in Grand Traverse, Antrim and Leelanau Counties and initiated procedures that are still the basis for 13th Circuit Family Court procedures. Since 1998, I have worked for the Circuit Court Judges as Referee in Wexford and Missaukee Counties. I have conducted more than a thousand trials and formal court hearings on family related matters such as custody, parenting time and child support.

I have been a Domestic Relations Mediator since 1998. I was the first local attorney to obtain training in divorce mediation. I organized the first divorce mediation training for other local lawyers. I have acted as a “coach” for mediation training sessions and have conducted local workshops on mediation. Although I find the Referee work both challenging and rewarding, helping divorcing or separating families take responsibility for reaching their own agreements through mediation is also extremely satisfying. Divorce mediation has also required that I expand my understanding of child development, financial planning, property distribution and communication skills.

Mediation practice led me to discover another model of dispute resolution. In Collaborative Divorce, the couple, their attorneys, mental health professionals, child and financial specialists work together as a team to craft the best resolution with the individual family. Since 2008 I have been on the board of the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan. I have recruited 13 other local family professionals to attend Collaborative Divorce Training and introduced the collaborative model to Northern Michigan. Together we have formed Up North Collaborative Divorce Professionals.

Other than when I was a full-time Referee in the 13th Circuit, my law practice of 31 years has always included Criminal Law on both the trial and appellate level. I have practiced throughout the state, in local courts, in the Michigan Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. I have been qualified by the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System since its inception in 1985 at the highest level (Level III) of roster attorneys for felony indigent appellants. I started as a criminal defense attorney in Detroit in 1979 and worked at the Wayne County Defender Office through 1983. While in private practice in Detroit and through 1993 in Traverse City, I continued to have a mostly criminal practice, both retained and appointed. In 1987-1993 and again in 2005-2006, I was a roster attorney for indigent felony defendants in Leelanau County. I have attended criminal law seminars throughout my career and, when practicing exclusively criminal law, presented at a variety of workshops and served on criminal law related committees, at the local and state level.

I have tried to devote my life to public service and have worked for humanitarian causes. Working for human rights in the community and broader world has been, for me, a natural extension of justice in the court room and fair solutions within families. I attribute my concern for others and dedication to public service to the model set by my parents Esther and Aloysius Kromkowski who throughout their 60 years of marriage were active in their church and community organizations in Indiana. I am proud that I have had the courage and compassion to be involved in issues that impact the security, stability and health of our world. In Leelanau County I am active in the Leelanau Conservancy as a joint steward with my husband of the Finton Property in Northport. As parents, both Matthew and I have been involved in the Montessori schools within Suttons Bay Public School System, the 4-H Program in Leelanau County and helped develop the Shielding Tree Nature Center at Sleeping Bear National Park. I have recently joined the Early Childhood Initiative of Leelanau County and attend the meetings of the Leelanau County Family Coordinating Council.

Resume of Marian Kromkowski
Kromkowski & Posner, PC

LICENSED ATTORNEY FOR 31 YEARS

• 2008/present: Collaborative Divorce Practitioner
• 1998/present: Facilitative and Evaluative Domestic Relations Mediator for 13th Circuit
• 1998/present: Part-time Domestic Relations Referee, 28th Circuit Court/Family Division
• 1993-1997: Full-time Domestic Relations Referee, 13th Circuit Court/Family Division
• 1985/present: Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System highest level (Level III) roster attorney for felony indigent appellants.
• 2005-2006: Roster attorney for indigent felony criminal defendants in Leelanau County
• 1987-1993: Roster attorney for indigent felony criminal defendants in 13th Circuit Court
• 1983: Admitted to United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and Eastern District of Michigan Federal Court
• 1981-present: Partner in Firm of Kromkowski and Posner, PC. Office in Leelanau County since 1991 and in the 13th Circuit since 1987
• 1980-1983: Wayne County Defender Office trial attorney
• 1977-1980 Mogill, Bush, Posner, Cohen and Weiss (law clerk, then associate lawyer)
• 1979: Admitted to State Bar of Michigan 1979 Wayne State University, Juris Doctor
• 1975: Indiana University, Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude
• 1972: St. Joseph High School, South Bend, IN

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

• 2010: Children’s Law Section Update on Issues in Juvenile Courts
  • 2010: State Court Administrator Office Training on Indian CHild Welfare Act
    • 2010: Courts, Child Welfare and Infant Mental Health Conference
      • 2010: Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan: Advanced Collaborative Divorce
      • 2009: International Academy of Collaborative Professionals Annual Conference
      • 2009: Governor’s Task Force on Children’s Justice Child Abuse and Neglect Summit
      • 2010 Michigan Judicial Institute Training for Domestic Relations and Juvenile Referees
      • 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009: Michigan Judicial Institute Training for Domestic Relations Referees
      • 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2008: Referee Association of Michigan/Judicial Institute: Domestic Relations Referee Update
      • 2004, 2005: Conference on Domestic Relations, State Bar Family Law Section
      • 2003: Friend of the Court Update on Changes in Child Support and Custody Laws
      • 2002 American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference.
      • 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006: Child Custody, Support and Parenting Time Update, Institute of Continuing Legal Education
      • 2000: Guardian Ad Litem in Divorce Matters for an Expanded Role in the New Family Court, State Bar Family Law Section
      • 1997: Personal Protection Orders and Domestic Violence, Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan
      • 1997: Domestic Violence and Its Impact upon the Family, Gaylord Catholic Diocese.
      • 1994-97: Training sessions for new Friend of the Court Employees, Issues for Domestic Relations Referees, Issues related to the Integration of Probate and Circuit Court Referees, Michigan Judicial Institute
      • 1996: Family Law Conference, Friend of the Court Association
      • 1983-98; 2003-2008: Two day conferences on current issues in criminal law, Criminal Defense Association of Michigan

      MEDIATION TRAINING

      • 2009 International Academy of Collaborative Professionals Forum
      • 2009: Collaborative Divorce Practice Training, Collaborative Practice Institute of MI
      • 2008: Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Training, State Bar ADR Section
      • 2008: Training with Pauline Tesler on Collaborative Law
      • 2007: Advanced Mediation Skills Seminar, Conflict Resolution Services, Inc.
      • 2002, 2006, 2007: Advanced Mediation Training, State Bar ADR Section
      • 2007: Collaborative Divorce Practice Training, Collaborative Practice Institute of MI
      • 2006: Cooperative Divorce Training
      • 2004, 2005: Family Law Institute, State Bar Association
      • 2005: Round Table Discussion on Domestic Relations Mediation, Community Reconciliation Service
      • 2004: Advanced Domestic Relations Mediation Training, Forrest Mosten
      • 2004: Domestic Violence Screening Protocol Training, Michigan Council for Family and Divorce Mediation
      • 2003: Confidentiality in Mediation, Conflict Resolution Service, Inc.
      • 2003: Active Non-Violence Training, Michigan Peace Team.
      • 2002: Divorce Mediation Conference, Michigan Council of Family Court Mediators
      • 2002: Breaking Impasse and Intervention Strategies, Conflict Resolution Service, Inc.
      • 2000: Impasse Breaking Techniques in Mediation, Conflict Resolution Service, Inc.
      • 2000: Values in Mediation: Advanced Facilitative Divorce Mediation Training, Academy of Family Mediators
      • 2000: Facilitative Mediation in the Michigan Court of Appeals, State Bar ADR Section
      • 2000: Reflective Listening and Professional Conduct, Conflict Resolution Service, Inc.
      • 1999: Special Masters/Parenting Coordinators in Family Court, Law and Psychology Collaboration of Ann Arbor with Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D.
      • 1998: Divorce Mediation Conference, Michigan Council of Family Court Mediators
      • 1998: 40 Hour Divorce Facilitative Mediation Training by Zena Zumeta through the Mediation Training and Consultation Institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
      • 1997: 40 Hour Community Mediation Training, State Court Administrator Office.
      • 1996: Divorce Mediation Conference, Illinois Council of Family/Divorce Mediators.

      OTHER LAW RELATED ACTIVITIES

      • 2010: Presentation to Women Lawyers Association regarding Collaborative Divorce
      • 2009: Member of UpNorth Collaborative Divorce Professionals
      • 2008/present: Board Member, Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan
      • Member of Grand Traverse, Leelanau Antrim County Bar Association
      • Member of Women Lawyers Association
      • Member of Referee Association of Michigan
      • Member of International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
      • Certified Electronic Operator, court proceeding recording purposes
      • 1998-2002: Alternative Dispute Resolution Bar Committee
      • 1997/present: Accredited Mediator with the Conflict Resolution Services, Inc.
      • 2005: Co-facilitated Mediation In-Services for the Community Reconciliation Service, Inc.: Ethics in Mediation.
      • 2004: Co-facilitated Mediation In-Services for the Community Reconciliation Service, Inc.: Power Imbalance in Mediation.
      • 2000; 2001: Coach at Divorce Mediation Training in Grand Rapids and Marquette with Zena Zumeta of the Mediation Training and Consultation Institute.
      • 1996: Conducted seminar in 13th Circuit on Personal Protection Orders
      • 1997: Conducted seminar in the 13th Circuit on the Rules of Evidence’s impact on the child witness.
      • 1997: Presented opening remarks at SMILE (Start Making it Livable for Everyone) for parents with pending divorce cases in the 13th Circuit Court.
      • 1997: Compiled Bench Book for the use of Family Court Division Judges in the 13th Circuit Court and
      • 1997: Modified form motions to be used in the Family Court Division by unrepresented litigants in domestic relations and Personal Protection Order matters.
      • 1997-1999: Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association
      • 1996-1999: Grand Traverse County Task Force on Domestic Violence
      • 1995 through 1997: Conducted local seminars and facilitated meetings relative to Personal Protection Orders for 13th Circuit Court employees, law enforcement and prosecutors
      • 1994-1996: State Bar of Michigan Committee on Criminal Justice Delivery Systems
      • 1993-1997: Developed the first court procedures relevant to Domestic Relations Referee cases in the 13th Circuit Court.
      • 1993-1996: Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Counties Alternative Sentencing Commission
      • 1993-1995: Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association Criminal Law and Procedure Subcommittee
      • 1992: Primary contributor to the 13th Circuit Judicial Liaison Committee’s formulated revisions to criminal procedure in Circuit Court.
      • 1982: Author of the first edition of the Wayne County Criminal Defender Handbook, published and disseminated by Wayne County Circuit Court’s Criminal Advocacy Program

      COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

      • 2010: Participant in Early Childhood Initiative of Leelanau County
      • 2009/Present: Attendee at Leelanau County Family Coordinating Counsel
      • 2009/Present: Up North Collaborative Divorce Professionals Practice Group
      • 2009/Present: Leelanau Conservancy, Steward
      • 2008, 2009: Great Lakes Bioneers, presenter
      • 2006: Awarded ACLU Dean Robb UnSung Hero Award
      • 2002/Present: MidEastJustPeace, co-founder and Board Member
      • 2006/Present: IndyFlix Steering Committee in Leelanau County
      • 2001-2004: Suttons Bay Friends of the Fine Arts
      • 2001: Leelanau Montessori School Board Member
      • 2000-2003: Leelanau County Kiddin’ Around 4-H Club
      • 1999-2002: Shielding Tree Nature Center Board Member

      PERSONAL BACKGROUND

      • Married to Matthew Leland Posner for 29 years
      • Three lovely daughters: Esther 27, Claire 24 and Ellen 21
      • Raised in South Bend, Indiana, youngest of 5 children
      • Moved to Detroit for law school in 1976
      • Lived in Detroit until 1987 and then moved to Traverse City
      • Settled in Suttons Bay in 1991
      • Husband’s family has roots in Leelanau County since 1947