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Kent County Circuit Court Judge James Robert Redford

(Chris Clark | MLive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI –Circuit Court Judge James Robert Redford is looking to end a 70-year absence of Kent County judges serving on the Michigan Supreme Court.

Redford said paperwork will be filed Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Lansing to secure the East Grand Rapids resident a place on the ballot as a candidate for the state’s highest court.

“I have a passion for justice and law and a lifelong commitment to service,” Redford said.

Redford, who was elected to the Kent County bench in 2002, said he has thought about running for the State Supreme Court for some time, but gave it more serious consideration after he was approached by colleagues from across the state to run for the seat coming open this year due to the retirement of Justice Michael Cavanagh.

Redford served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan and worked in private practice before his election to Circuit Court in 2002 and he was re-elected in 2010 to a term set to expire in 2016.

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In July of 2012, Redford ended a 28-year career with the US Navy where he served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps before going on reserve duty.

Redford was also a military trial judge and was named commanding officer of the Navy Reserve Trial Judiciary. In October of 2012, Redford received the Legion of Merit medal.

In December, the Michigan Supreme Court appointed Redford as chair of the Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions

Redford said he believes his lengthy, varied experience makes him a good choice for the job.

Redford said he has the pieces in place for what in recent years has become an increasingly contentious race costing millions of dollars.

Redford plans to seek the Republican nomination for what is ostensibly a non-partisan race. He said he is not aware who else may be running but hopes to get his name out well in advance of the spring filing deadline.

The last person from Grand Rapids to serve on the State Supreme Court was Raymond Starr, who was on the bench between 1941 and 1946.

E-mail Barton Deiters: bdeiters@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/GRPBarton or Facebook at facebook.com/bartondeiters.5