Stupak runs for 94th District Court judgeship
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ESCANABA -- After 25 years practicing law in courts throughout the Upper Peninsula, Trenton "Trent" M. Stupak is seeking to become the next judge of Delta County's 94th District Court.
Stupak, 51, has practiced primarily in Delta County's District, Circuit and Probate courts through Stupak Law Office. His legal work has also taken him into 13 of the 15 Upper Peninsula counties, federal courts in Michigan's Eastern and Western districts, Michigan appellate courts, several tribal courts in the U.P. and courts in Wisconsin.
Trent has also served as president of the Delta County Bar Association and participated on the Upper Michigan Legal Institute Committee and U.P. Trial Skills Workshop Committee.
A Delta County native, Stupak was raised by Frank and Penny Stupak. His father, Frank, and John Bergman established Stupak and Bergman, which became Stupak Law Office in 2007. Frank has practiced law in Delta County for more than five decades.
Trent discovered his love for the law in high school - a passion he would ultimately pursue.
"I worked at the law office in college and over the summers, and I would read deposition transcripts and police reports, and it really caught my attention. I like to argue, too," Trent said.
Trent graduated from high school in 1994 and attended Michigan State University for his undergraduate studies before graduating from Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law in 2001.
Within two weeks of passing the bar examination, Stupak participated in his first jury trial, which resulted in an acquittal for his client.
"Ever since, I've been a trial lawyer, being in court and trying cases. I love the action," he said.
During his career, Trent has handled jury and bench trials, preliminary examinations, pleas and sentencings. His experience has included criminal cases involving life felonies; civil cases involving personal injury and wrongful death; divorce cases involving child custody and significant financial outcomes; and disputes involving real estate and other property rights.
"One of best compliments I’ve ever had was when I went against someone in a very vigorous, contentious type of litigation, and the other side hired me in the future," Trent recalled. "I heard, 'Well, we’re hiring the best.'"
Trent met his wife, Amy Schulkins, while attending college. The couple married in 2003 and moved to Escanaba, where Amy has taught in the Escanaba Area Public Schools system since. The couple has two children — Spencer, 15, and Camryn, 13.
The family attends All Saints Catholic Church, where their children serve as altar servers.
Trent previously sought the 94th District Court judgeship in 2014, when he ran against Steve Parks and John Economopoulos. Parks won that election and is set to retire in December. Economopoulos was elected to the 47th Circuit Court in 2016.
During Trent’s 2014 campaign, he advocated for establishing a Drug and Sobriety Court in Delta County. Parks subsequently established the program after taking office. Stupak said continuing the program would remain a priority if he is elected.
"In 25 years of practicing law, I’ve got to know a lot of offenders that have been in drug court, and I’ve got to understand the makeup, the vulnerability of someone who is addicted to alcohol, drugs and other substances, and they can’t shake that," Trent said. "(Drug/Sobriety Court) gives them an opportunity to go through an intensive process with professionals."
Additionally, Trent plans to address mental health issues in Delta County through an expanded Drug/Sobriety Court program.
"We probably need somebody else on the drug court team that deals with mental health, and we need to reach out to maybe some of the professionals at OSF or Bellin or some local psychologist, psychiatrist to help deal with that issue,” Trent said. "I think instead of creating a new court, adding to one that’s already successful makes the most sense."
Trent also feels the county needs more attorneys to represent community members. If elected, Trent plans on continuing his communication with the Michigan State Bar to open a public defender's office here.
"I see the court calendar, and there are lawyers coming from Munising, Marquette, the Sioux, to represent the indigent here," Trent said. "That doesn’t make a lot of sense. There’s ways to attract lawyers, whether it be state grants so that their pay is adequate, staff their offices with legal assistance and maybe a paralegal and make that a position that someone wants to be in and remain at."
Trent said he believes judicial temperament, patience and the ability to listen are important qualities for a judge, particularly when defendants appear without attorneys and may not understand the legal system.
He also described decisiveness as an important quality for a judge.
"During a trial, I can't change my position on the case or my argument halfway through," Trent added. "I make an opening statement, and that's got to be my theme -- that’s got to be how I roll with the case. A judge is the same way."
Trent's family has longstanding ties to Delta County. His grandfather, Frank A. Stupak Sr., served as chair of the Delta County Board of Commissioners, mayor of Gladstone and superintendent of Big Bay de Noc Schools. His uncle, Bart Stupak, served as a State Legislator and a United States Congressman for 20 years.
Outside his legal practice, Trent is a member of the Escanaba Elks Club, Knights of Columbus, U.P. Whitetails Association, Wildlife Unlimited, Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sports Fishermen and the YMCA. He has twice co-chaired the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.
Trent has also served as local director of the Escanaba Elks Hoop Shoot Contest and sponsored and assisted with coaching youth travel sports.
Several area attorneys, public officials and current and former judges have endorsed Trent for 94th District Court judge, including former 94th District Court Judge Glenn A. Pearson, who served from 2003 to 2015; Charles C. Nebel, presiding judge of the 93rd District Court serving Schoolcraft and Alger counties; and Robert Jamo, 95A District Court judge in Menominee County.
"I'm willing to give Delta County citizens a judge who has 25 years of experience in all of the areas of law that go before the court," Stupak said. "I think experience, my integrity and honesty in dealing with other professionals is why I'm obtaining the endorsements that I have."
Stupak also has the support of various members in law enforcement.
“What’s interesting is I’ve worked with law enforcement officers almost on a daily basis for 25 years in an adverse type of situation. I’ve cross-examined a lot of the police officers and vigorously cross-examined officers that are now supporting me. They see that I can be fair, they see that I have integrity and they see that I don’t hold grudges,” Trent added.
More information about Stupak's campaign is available at stupakforjudge.com and on the "Stupak for Judge" Facebook page.
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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021, ext. 148, or svogelmann@dailypress.net.