.png)
ABOUT MALAIKA RAMSEY-HEATH
Running for Judge of 36th District Court
A JOURNEY OF SERVICE
As a dedicated magistrate at the 36th District Court for nearly five years, I am excited to announce my candidacy for the position of Judge in the 36th District Court. I humbly seek your support and vote for this critical role. By getting involved, you can make a significant impact by volunteering for our canvassing efforts, hosting a meet-and-greet event, or contributing through donations. Together, we can work towards a more just and efficient judicial system in our community.
COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE
In my years of service, I have been committed to upholding the principles of justice and fairness. I believe in a judicial system that ensures equality for all and provides opportunities for a better community. Learn more about my career history>
TACKLING TOUGH ISSUES
Much of the time, our justice system works as it should. But, other times it fails. When it fails, it deprives a human being of their freedom and places our community at risk. Judges must see themselves as gatekeepers, guarding the rights of all individuals who come before the court, and prioritizing community safety. As an experienced attorney and magistrate, I have been tested and I have proven that I am willing to stand up for what is right, even if it has come with media backlash.
VISION FOR THE COURT
Justice and Fairness for All
As a candidate for Judge of 36th District Court, my mission is to ensure that justice and fairness are upheld for all members of our community. I am committed to promoting equality and providing opportunities that will lead to a better future. This is a great space to share my detailed plans and approach towards creating a more just and equitable judicial system for the 36th District Court.
CAREER OVERVIEW
Malaika began her career working with incarcerated women as they were released and re-establishing ties to their communities and families. She has served as a committed board member of Michigan Legal Services, a Detroit non-profit dedicated to the prevention of homelessness, for more than 15 years. Malaika began her career in the City of Detroit as a constituent relations specialist and legal analyst for the late Maryann Mahaffey during her term as Detroit City Council President. Mentored by President Mahaffey, she strengthened her commitment to fighting poverty and improving the lives of Detroit citizens. After several years as a stay-at-home mom, Malaika joined Community Legal Resources as the Director of the Detroit Vacant Property Campaign, a project dedicated to helping Detroit neighborhood associations and block clubs navigate the foreclosure crisis by keeping neighborhoods safe and maintaining property values. Malaika operated a private law practice, however, her commitment to serving the citizens led her to become an appellate level public defender, representing indigent defendants in some of the country's most high-profile cases and securing exoneration of wrongfully incarcerated innocent people. Malaika joined the bench of the 36th District Court as a magistrate in 2020 and has served Detroit's citizens in that capacity for nearly five years. She presides over criminal, civil, and traffic matters, and she is known for the fair, balanced approach she brings to the bench. Her goal is to fully and critically examine each case and individual before her to ensure true justice is Served. If you ask Malaika what formed and continues to shape her idea of justice, she will tell you about her life experience first and her professional experience second. Her mother and father were civil rights attorneys who emphasized the importance of respect for the rights of all people, especially marginalized people. She has been a victim of crime and had police officers save her life. She also lost her grandmother after police contact as a college student, and her brother died in a jail cell after being arrested a little over a year ago and held for disorderly conduct. Malaika knows first-hand the importance of seeing every case through a human lens with solutions focused on restoring wholeness to communities.
MALAIKA AT HOME
Malaika Ramsey-Heath lives with her two senior dogs in Detroit's North End/Piety Hill. She is the mother of two college students, having raised her children in the Greenwich Park and University District neighborhoods, where she was an active board member for many years.
