Letter to Voters

From the Candidate

Dear Community/Voters:

“Do not judge me by my successes judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again” Nelson Mandela. Over the last thirty plus years of being a lawyer and being in this community, I have had many successes and many challenges as well as having dealt with many adversities. I have been guided by my faith and my family along with individuals who have interacted with me over the years. My classmates, co-workers/colleagues, clients, community leaders, judges and notable others like Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks and Fannie Adams have been there for me through all these times with their words of support and encouragement. These individuals and their words have help me to be patient, empathetic and wise.

Life and legal experiences make a person who he is and lets others know how he can be an effective Judge in a diverse community as we have here in the 45th District. Huntington Woods, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge and Royal Oak Charter Township are all different in their own way. In order to properly serve these distinct entities a background of handling communities with their own particular socioeconomic history is a plus. I have served and represented citizens and businesses in the United States District Court, United States Bankruptcy Court, various Circuit Courts (including the Family, Juvenile and Probate Divisions) and the District Courts.

The 45th District Court (formerly 45-B) has been my goal for quite a while. My community involvement, legal experience and community service are noteworthy. As a former educator, literacy is an important issue to me and it has finally been identified as such by the Federal Court. From a legal perspective, an individual’s first contact with the legal justice system occurs at the District Court level. My experience has been that over fifty (50) percent of individuals were functionally illiterate. I often pondered, could they read job application to gain employment, could they read their lease agreement to avoid eviction or could they read the retail contract and avoid collection. These are all matters for the district court.

I WANT TO BE YOUR JUDGE. I would like to thank all the voters who have supported me in the past. I have worked hard to maintain my practice and become an attorney who you would feel proud to place on the bench. A person who would be respected by those that come before it knowing that respect would be returned in kind. I have continuously worked hard to gain the respect of my colleagues and members of the bench. I will administer justice to the citizens of Huntington Woods, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge and the Charter Township of Royal Oak according to my experience, knowledge and good judgment. In the words of David Qumchi, “just as the world cannot exist without water, so it cannot be without wisdom”; including the judiciary!

My wisdom has been cultivated over the years through my interaction with many of you. I have had the pleasure of meeting and talking to many of you through our school system, sports activities, and legal as well as political community events. I ask for your continued support of my candidacy for JUDGE FOR THE 45TH DISTRICT COURT.

Gil Whitney McRipley
“Rip”


“Where EXPERIENCE delivers EXCELLENCE.
Fairness for families and Justice for our community.”