FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office
Contact: Dawn Fraylick, Communications Director
Office: +1 (586) 469-5737
Cell: +1 (586) 842-4421
Email: Dawn.Fraylick@macombgov.org
November 8, 2024
Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Seeks to Fill Two Assistant Prosecutor Vacancies After Judgeship Elections
Mount Clemens, MI - Following Tuesday's election, two Macomb County assistant prosecuting attorneys have been elected to the judiciary, creating vacancies in a prosecutor’s office that has remained fully staffed amid a national hiring crisis. Assistant Prosecutors Anthony Servitto and Aaron Hall won judgeships in the Macomb County Circuit Court and Probate Court, respectively, marking the continuation of a longstanding tradition of Macomb County prosecutors ascending to the bench.
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido praised the team’s accomplishments and expressed pride in Servitto and Hall’s new roles. “I am incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together and the dedication of our team,” Lucido said. “I am especially thrilled that two of our outstanding assistant prosecutors have been elected to judgeships. Their commitment to justice and fairness will be an asset to our courts, and I look forward to continuing our shared mission of serving this community with integrity and strength.”
Despite a national shortage of public prosecutors, exacerbated by high caseloads and underfunding, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office has quickly filled vacancies to remain fully staffed. Lucido’s office has stood out statewide for maintaining a fully staffed roster of 76 assistant prosecutors, even as many Michigan counties struggle with prosecutor shortages. The rarity of a Macomb County’s fully staffed prosecutor’s office is noteworthy, given Michigan’s significant shortage of assistant prosecutors. In response to the statewide crisis, the Michigan state budget for 2024-25 includes $17 million aimed at addressing these vacancies in other counties. In contrast, Macomb County’s success in filling all assistant prosecutor positions has set it apart as a model, underscoring the effectiveness of the office’s culture and hiring practices. Lucido credits the office’s ability to recruit and retain staff to a collaborative environment where “talented people like working with talented people.”
Many Macomb County judges, including Circuit Court Chief Judge James Biernat Jr. and Judges Matthew Sabaugh, Tracey Yokich, and Michael Servitto, as well as District Court Judges Suzanne Faunce and Jennifer Andary, were Macomb County assistant prosecutors early in their careers. This legacy reflects the office’s strong influence on the county’s judicial system, preparing attorneys for leadership roles through a culture of professional development and integrity.
Lucido’s tenure has emphasized equitable hiring practices and representation, with significant reforms in hiring, including introducing an objective interview scoring process to ensure transparency and fairness in hiring, creating a standard for merit-based promotion decisions and attracting diverse talent. Since 2021, 70% of new assistant prosecuting hires have been women, and more women were promoted to lead special prosecution units than ever before, including Chief of Trials and Circuit Courts, Drug Unit, Juvenile Unit, Child Protection Unit, Domestic Violence Unit, Conviction Integrity Unit, Internet Crimes Unit, Human Trafficking Unit, Environmental Unit, Senior Crimes and Consumer Protection Unit and the Family Division.
Those interested in applying for the newly available assistant prosecutor positions can do so through the Macomb County Human Resources and Labor Relations Department at Macomb County Career Opportunities after the vacancies are posted.
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