On January 30, 2015, Judge Lisa Langton was sworn in by Michigan Supreme Court Justice David F. Viviano as the newest Oakland County Circuit Court. Judge Langton was surrounded by her close-knit family, colleagues, friends, members of the judiciary from the Michigan Supreme Court, Federal Bench, several Circuit and District Court Judges as well as a host of dignitaries who were there to witness her swearing in.
The program, emceed by Judge Langton’s husband, Charlie Langton, included remarks from Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, several friends and colleagues and included heartfelt remarks by her father, James Symula. In his remarks he talked about Judge Langton’s attributes including her understanding of the law, her ability to get along with people, her sense of humor and her organizational skills.
The press release went on to say that prior to administering the oath, Justice Viviano praised Langton saying “There are two types of public officials, those who accomplished everything they wanted to accomplish the day they got elected or appointed and there are those who get elected or appointed because they want to accomplish things, and I know, Lisa, that you are going to accomplish great things on the bench.”
Langton began her legal career serving as a court clerk for Retired Oakland County Probate Court Judges Eugene Arthur Moore and Norman Barnard. She later joined the firm of Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett, P.C., as an associate attorney where she handled family, civil and probate cases.
After eight years in private practice, she returned to the Probate Court as chief of the Probate Estates Division. After the creation of the Family Division in 1988, Judge Langton served in the Probate Court as Probate Register and the Circuit Court as Family Division Administrator. Her leadership with administrative issues affecting the Family Division was critical in helping to get the division up and running. After serving eight years in her dual role, she became Deputy Court Administrator for the Circuit Court overseeing the Family Division.
After presiding over the investiture, Oakland Circuit Chief Judge Nanci Grant commented, “As Chief Judge, I am thrilled to have Judge Langton join us. She is a hard worker and has all the qualities that a judge should have such as morality, patience, community involvement and sound judgment. She applies her intelligence without arrogance and, most importantly, Judge Langton treats everyone with dignity and professionalism. She is an outstanding addition to our bench and the community has a wonderful judge.”
Judge Langton assumes the open seat that was vacated by Judge John McDonald and has been assigned a new Family Division docket created through a random reassignment of active cases from the other Family Division dockets. She will hear domestic cases, delinquency and neglect petitions, adoptions and personal protection orders.
About Sarah Hovis
She is the worst judge! What she did to my daughter was criminal! Absolutely terrifying ever time I had to go in front of her! She needs to be removed!!!!