Attorney Abbie Bazzi.

DEARBORN
— Dignitaries and community members packed Byblos Banquet Hall for Attorney
Abbie Bazzi’s campaign fundraiser for 19th District Court Judge in Dearborn on
Tuesday, April 12. 

Bazzi has
amassed close to 24 years of legal experience, including being a
managing attorney at the UAW Ford Legal Services Plan in Wayne and Livonia for 17
years. She has also worked for the UAW Ford Legal Services Plan in Dearborn.

Celia
Beydoun Nasser, Bazzi’s campaign manager, was the emcee of the ceremony.

Bazzi (right) with Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

The elected officials who turned out to support Bazzi included Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy; Wayne County Treasurer Eric sabree; Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly;
Dearborn Councilman Mike Sareini; Dearborn Heights Councilman Dave Abdallah; Wayne County Commissioner Al Haidous; Wayne County Commissioner Gary Woronchak; Third Circuit Court Judge Adel Harb; Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Allen; 19th District Chief Judge Sam Salamey; 20th District Court Judges David Turfe and Mark J. Plawecki and State Court Administrator Milton Mack Jr., among others. 

Bazzi is
vying for a seat that will be left vacant by 19th District Court
Judge William Hultgren, whose six-year term concludes at the end of the year.

Two other
candidates are also bidding for the seat as well; Dearborn City Council
President Susan Dabaja and Dearborn attorney Gene Hunt.

Hultgren
spoke at Bazzi’s event, stating that it would be pleasant to have Bazzi replace
him at the courthouse when he exits, adding that she meets all the
characteristics and qualifications of a judge.

“She is
the finest product of this Dearborn community,” Hultgren said. “She is a true
leader, a soft spoken woman, but tough as nails when she has to be.”

Hultgren
noted that a few years ago, he offered Bazzi an opportunity to be appointed as
a city magistrate, but that she declined because the timing wasn’t in her favor
as she was dedicated to her job position at the UAW.  

Worthy
took the podium to announce that she was endorsing Bazzi’s bid.

She
described meeting Bazzi for the first time as a pleasant experience, stating
that she was passionate and professional in demeanor.

“What I
met was a woman of experience, a woman of passion and dedication,” said Worthy.
 “But most importantly a woman that has
been a lawyer for almost 24 years and has practiced law every day. Not someone
who decided one day she wanted to be judge just because she could.”

Bazzi
took center stage at the end of the event to thank the community for backing
her run.

“Thanks
to those who signed my petition, I appreciate your nomination and your vote of
confidence,” Bazzi said. “I assure all of you as we travel down this road
together, with your encouragement, support and enthusiasm, we will win the race
for Dearborn judge.”

Bazzi is
the mother of four children and has resided in Dearborn for more than 44 years.

This
marks her first fundraising community event. In January, she held a kick-off
event at Byblos to announce her run.

She vowed
that as a district judge, she would treat every individual before her with the
utmost respect, and make fair decisions on behalf of the city.

“The most
important duty of a judge is to ensure that justice is served,” Bazzi said.
“Justice can only be served if everyone that enters the courtroom is treated
with respect and dignity, without preconceived bias and prejudice.”

The deadline to file for a judge position is  Tuesday, April 19. The deadline to withdrawl from the race is Friday, April 22.

The primary
election is slated for Tuesday, August 2, while the general election will be
held on Tuesday, November 8.