KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – An incumbent Kalamazoo County District Court judge has filed a lawsuit to get back on the ballot this fall, after being disqualified over an issue with an affidavit and the failure to pay $2,025 in late filing fees.
Judge Namita Sharma filed the lawsuit earlier this month against the state’s Bureau of Election and director Jonathan Brater.
Sharma was originally bounced off the ballot after the state said she filed a false affidavit of identity. On that form she attested that she had no unresolved late filing fees. However, she had three such unresolved fees, one from 2023 and two from 2024, totaling $2,025.
Sharma contends the unresolved late filing fees were a mistake by her campaign tresurer. After paying the back fees and filing a nominating petition to get back on the ballot, that petition was rejected by the Bureau of Elections.
According to MLive, when Sharma initially filed her candidacy, she was one of two incumbent district judges, along with Judge Kathleen P. Hemingway, filing for two incumbent spots, while
two other candidates, District Magistrate Mark Holsomback and Assistant Public Defender Rachel Vinales, both filed to fill one non-incumbent seat. That opening was created by the upcomng retirement of Judge Richard Santoni.
Sharma’s attorney says after she was disqualified, the Bureau of Elections “arbitrarily switched one of the incumbent positions to a non-incumbent position.” When she re-filed, the state rejected her petition because it said she was running for an incumbent position and there was no longer an incumbent position to file for.
Attorney Mark Brewer says not putting Sharma back on the ballot not only denies her rights, but the rights of voters.
Sharma has been the presiding judge of Kalamazoo County’s family court division since 2023 and a sitting district judge since 2021.
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