DEARBORN — It is past 5:30 p.m. on a Wednesday evening, and 19th District Court Judge Mark Somers is still not finished with his afternoon docket. His final case of the day is a civil suit involving a woman who claims her ex-boyfriend is threatening to blackmail her with private photos she had once shared with him. 

“It’s just another normal day here in the courtroom,” Somers tells The Arab American News following the hearing. Before his scheduled interview with TAAN, he calls his wife to tell her he will be running a little late for dinner.

This type of family mannerism always seems to be showcased by Somers when he’s sitting on the bench. While a defendant might believe the criminal justice system is built around punishment, Somers aims to make it the first step of rehabilitation. 

“It is an opportunity to work with people who need help. I am more interested in the rehabilitative part of the work than the punitive part of it. Punishment has its place and is a necessary part of the system. But at this level, people are in need of some form of guidance, a support system that helps turn things around,” Somers says.

It is for this reason why he has decided to seek reelection as a judge at the 19th District Court, even after 12 years under his belt. Somers says public health issues are on the rise in the community, and the biggest culprit is substance abuse.

Teens and young adults are often making appearances at the court for violations that involve abuse of prescriptions drugs, marijuana possession and underage drinking. 

Judge Somers.

But even as a member of the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals for over ten years now, Somers has yet to grow accustomed to these types of cases. He refuses to treat his docket like an assembly line. He can often be seen engaging in conversations or even lecturing individuals who have had run-ins with the law.

“I feel judges have an obligation to try to make a difference. It is incumbent on us to communicate with somebody in a fashion that is respectful but meaningful and expresses sense of values.  It would be easy to sit there like a robot, but I think that would be failing to meet the charge that we have, which is to try and make a difference,” Somers adds. 

Being a judge in the City of Dearborn also means he often has to deal with residents of various backgrounds and religions, which sometimes could lead to a cultural clash in the courtroom. Somers says he has been able to navigate successfully through such obstacles, as he came from a diverse upbringing.

After he was raised in the Detroit metro area as a toddler, Somers and his parents moved to India when he was four, where they worked for a Methodist church. He spent 11 years living in the country before moving back to Michigan.

Somers obtained a Bachelors Degree in International Relations from Michigan State. He attended Law School at Wayne State University, which to date has produced the most judges in the state. After practicing law for 19 years, he decided he wanted to become a judge in Dearborn.

Last year, Somers drew from some of his experiences as a judge when he sat on a committee to develop a court rule pertaining to interpreters in Michigan. A new state law now allows that an interpreter can be appointed for an accused, a witness, or an interested party. 

“I grew up overseas and lived in diverse communities. Dearborn to me was like coming home. I’m used to dealing with different cultures and language issues. Culture differences do complicate things, but at the same time living in a diverse community and having that experience is so unique. I would like to believe I’m well equipped to recognize those issues,” Somers adds. 

However, there were some internal setbacks involving Somers during his post at the 19th District Court. Julie Hultgren, now the wife of fellow 19th District Court Judge William Hultgren, sued Somers after she claimed she was fired as retaliation for her relationship with Hultgren and because she’s a woman. 

The lawsuit resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars spent out of city coffers. However, Somers adds that the internal conflicts have never once gotten in the way at the courthouse. 

“I don’t believe at any point in time any dispute with judges has ever affected the functioning of the court. Each judge handles dockets without interruptions. We have a professional staff. Not once have I seen an instance where a case or handling was affected by any of those disagreements. I think it would be a dishonor to our hard working staff for someone to imply that we don’t function properly,” Somers adds.

Somers says there are more pressing issues that he would like to direct his focus on, including how to handle juvenile delinquents as they work their way through the court. The 19th District Court is just one of three courts in southeast Michigan that has the authority to handle juvenile cases. 

He says he takes a careful approach with these types of cases because it can affect an entire family, and a decision by a judge can impact the mentality of a minor. 

“There’s a bit of an art to determining what their actual needs are. Underreacting is not going to make a difference. Overreaction will just push somebody in the wrong direction. It’s about trying to find the right balance and finding out what their needs and risk factors are,” Somers adds. 

Somers plans to directly interact with residents by going door to door while on the campaign trail this year.  He will be holding a fundraiser at La Pita restaurant on Tuesday, May 13 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.