Court and Community News from the Third Judicial Circuit

October 2024

Celebrating the Human Resources team

The Court’s HR Team celebrated HR Professionals Day on September 26, 2024. Human Resources is an integral part of the Court. Team members have a direct impact on every employee in some form or fashion. Below are some highlights in the history of HR as a profession.

Stop by CAYMC, suite 720 to meet your HR Team. Additionally, if you have HR related questions, you may contact HR at 3ccHR@3rdcc.org, or reach out to Chief Human Resources Officers Nikki Wright or Deputy Director of Human Resources Bridget Lamar-Jackson.

A Timeline of Key Moments in HR History

Early 1900s

The National Cash Register Company in the U.S. is believed to have created the first personnel (HR) department after a series of strikes and quality control issues negatively impacted the company. The department primarily dealt with recruitment, workplace safety, and employee complaints.

1910s-1920s

Frederick W. Taylor, an American engineer, initiated the scientific management movement to improve worker productivity. In 1911, he wrote the book The Principles of Scientific Management, which laid the foundation for efficiency-focused personnel management.

1930s-1950s

The Great Depression and World War II led to increased participation in labor unions. Laws such as the National Labor Relations Act protect workers’ rights to unionize in the U.S. From the 1940s onward, regulatory compliance and labor relations became important components of HR department responsibilities.

1960s-1970s

A series of groundbreaking laws were passed in the 1960s: the Equal Pay Act, The Civil Rights Act in the U.S., and the Race Relations Act in the U.K. As a result, equal opportunities and fair treatment begin to shape HR practices. The term “human resources” became widely used in the 1960s. In the 1970s, other regulations like the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) added an increased focus on workplace safety to HR’s role.

1980s-1990s

The use of computers in the workplace supported the rise in HR technology such as HR information systems (HRIS), allowing employee and payroll records to be stored and accessed electronically.

2000s

Although digital transformation continued with the use of data analytics in the late 2000s, “Human Resources” rebranded as “People” and “Talent” departments. There is a growing emphasis on improving HR’s relationship with employees, leading to more employee engagement initiatives.



Present

HR serves as a strategic function critical to driving an organization’s business growth.

Save the Date for the Free Child Support Help Event

Those needing legal assistance with child support issues should save the date of Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wayne County Friend of the Court will partner with the Salvation Army William Booth Legal Aid Clinic to have volunteer attorneys available to answer questions at Wayne County Community College’s Northwest Campus at 8200 W. Outer Drive in Detroit. Participants can sit down with an attorney and talk to Friend of the Court staff about options for canceling their state owed arrears.

More details will be forthcoming, but for now, mark the date on your calendar: Saturday, November 9, 2024!  

Friend of the Court Staff Celebrate Child Support Month

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared August 2024 as Child Support Month in the State of Michigan in recognition of the tireless efforts of child support workers to support Michigan children and families.

In celebration of the hard work and dedication of the Wayne County Friend of the Court child support workers, staff were able to take some time to relax, have fun and enjoy some fellowship while playing Bingo with their co-workers. They were also invited to an Ice Cream Social and enjoyed some sweet treats for all their hard work.

Wayne County has approximately 175 Friend of the Court staff who work on over 260,000 cases. In 2023, the FOC distributed over $212 million dollars in child support to Wayne County families. While FOC backlogs are still present due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, the staff is working hard on eliminating those backlogs in order to best serve the families of Wayne County. The Wayne County FOC has some of the most dedicated and passionate staff in the state. For that dedication, we say a huge "thank you" on behalf of the Court! 

Members of the court's Friend of the Court and Family Domestic staff work in groups to discuss case scenarios during training provided by First Step in Detroit last month.

First Step Continues Training Sessions on Intimate Partner Violence for Family Domestic and Friend of the Court

Staff from First Step visited Third Judicial Circuit in September to provide Family Domestic Judges and staff and Friend of the Court (FOC) staff with training on intimate partner violence. The training was the third in a series that is made possible through a partnership between First Step, Growthworks and the Court and supported by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women Justice for Family’s Grant.

Family Domestic and FOC staff learned to recognize manipulative tactics and red flags of abuse and were educated about trauma-informed approaches in communicating and working with survivors. The training has two parts and each will be offered to staff on two separate dates. The training was well received by staff with many commenting that they were not sure what to expect, but were quite happy with what they learned.



This project was supported by Grant No. # 15JOVW-23-GC-00329-JFFX awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Susan Moody joins the Court on the Legal Counsel team

Susan Moody joined the Court this summer as an Associate General Counsel - Family Division. In this role, Susan serves under the supervision and auspices of General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel as a legal advisor to the court, judges and administrators in both Juvenile and Domestic divisions.

Prior to joining the Court, Susan worked with Macomb County Friend of the Court serving as a Judicial Service Officer, child support enforcement. She served more than two decades as a State of Michigan Assistant Attorney General representing several state agencies in various areas of the law at the administrative, lower and appellate court levels.

During her career with the State of Michigan, Susan served in a variety of divisions including child and youth services, collections, executive division, alcohol and gambling enforcement. She is a Michigan State University graduate who earned her JD from Detroit College of Law/MSU College of Law.

Working for the Court and Office of General Counsel is an extension of Susan’s dedication and commitment to the honorable practice of public service. The mother of two comes from a family with three generations of public servants. Her father, the Hon. Blair Moody Jr. spent more than a decade as a Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge as well as a Michigan Supreme Court Justice.

“Working for the Court is somewhat of a coming home for me,” Susan says. “As a child he often took me to his courtroom here in Detroit to observe cases.”

FOC adds several new employees

It's been an active month of new hires for the Friend of the Court!

Cedric Ford joins the Information Services Department as an Information Specialist I. Having spent over a decade in the customer service industry, Cedric is dedicated to providing quality service to every customer: external and internal. Born and raised in Detroit, he values dedication to his craft and community. In his spare time, he enjoys learning new skills and traveling across the globe.

Jermeka Moore joins the Information Services Department – Medical Unit as an Information Specialist I. Jermeka has five children and one grandchild. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending time with her children, traveling, and reading. 

Jermeka previously worked as a Quality Technician at a manufacturing plant for 10 years. As an information Specialist I, she would like to gain knowledge for opportunities for advancement and growth. 



Munita Blair joins the Information Services Department as an Information Specialist I. Munita is from Detroit. She loves reading, watching movies, traveling, and helping others. Munita has years of customer service experience, loves to have fun while working, and looks forward to working with her new colleagues. 

Beatrice I. Carter joins the Order Entry Department as an Information Specialist I. Beatrice was born in Virginia, but raised in Detroit. She has one son, Joseph who lives in Missouri. Beatrice is a grandmother of seven, and great grandmother of four. She is convinced that each one is the most wonderful grandchild in all the world!

Throughout her life she has had various jobs, from City of Detroit, NBD bank, (before it was Chase), Uber driver, child care worker, Sunday school teacher, fast food restaurant employee, factory worker, bookkeeper and as an employee at the Accounting Aid Society. Beatrice also worked 16 years with AT&T. However, she is hopeful Third Circuit Court will be where she retires from.

Danny Dordeski joins the Legal Department as a Staff Attorney. Danny is a 2007 graduate of Wayne State Law School and was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 2008.

Prior to his position with the Friend of the Court, he worked at the 16th District Court and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. When he is not working Danny enjoys reading and assembling LEGOs. 

John Harb returns to the Legal Department as a Staff Attorney. John was previously employed as a Staff Attorney from 2019-22 and worked in private practice thereafter, exclusively representing clients in divorce and family law matters. 

John earned his law degree from Cooley Law School and holds a Master of Business Administration from University of Michigan-Flint. In his free time, John enjoys sports and exploring the outdoors.

Talia Goetting joins the Legal Department as a Staff Attorney. She graduated from Michigan State University College of Law in 2004 and is a former Assistant Attorney General. 

In 2009 Talia opened her own law firm, focusing on family law. When she isn’t working she enjoys going to the gym and spending time with her four daughters.

Shani Sanders joins the Case Establishment Department as an Information Specialist I. Shani is a mother of a charismatic 13-year- old. She loves traveling, hosting family gatherings, and being outdoors with friends during the summer. 

Shani lives in the heart of Detroit and loves it! She worked in customer service for over 20 years and is excited to embark on a new path with the the Court.

Tiffany Simmons joins the Document Processing Department as an Information Specialist I. She worked as an administrative assistant for the last 12years. Talia loves to learn new things, help others, and is a team player. She prides herself in doing her best on a daily basis. 

Tiffany has three children whom she adores. She enjoys reading and spending time with her kids.