Oakland County Judicial Guide 2026

About this guide: Judicial races carry no party labels on the ballot. This guide summarizes publicly available information on each candidate's professional qualifications, experience, community recognition, and endorsements. All facts are sourced from candidate websites, campaign filings, court records, and published news articles. This is a personal research document — it does not represent the views of any organization or PAC.

Quick Reference — Jump to Candidate

6th Circuit Court Judge — Vote for up to 2 (top 2 advance to November)

Victoria King Over a decade as Oakland County Circuit Court judicial staff attorney — endorsed by Chief Justice Robert P. Young Jr. (Ret.) and current Chief Judge Lisa Marie Neilson Only candidate with prior judicial experience — 10 years on Wayne County Probate Court bench (2012–2022), appointed by Gov. Snyder Nadine Renee Hatten Juvenile Referee, Oakland County — 15-yr teacher, LL.M. Criminal Defense, Sandra Silver Advocate for Children Award 2017

Oakland County Probate Court Judge — Vote for 1

Elisabeth Dery Partner, Yun Dery & Morgan — over a decade specialist probate & elder-law practice, OCBA Probate Committee Chair, VA Accredited Jessica Ann Hallmark Attorney with judicial family background — broad Oakland County community ties Sheila Calvary Worthy-Williams Candidate — see Oakland County Times interview (July 8, 2026) for full profile

Race 1 of 2

6th Circuit Court Judge

Vote for up to 2 — top 2 advance to November. Open seat: Judge Martha Anderson is term-limited.

Circuit Court — At a Glance

Criterion	Detail
Prior judicial experience	Neilson only10 years on Wayne County Probate Court bench (2012–2022); appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder (R)
Longest Oakland Circuit tenure	KingOver a decade as judicial staff attorney advising sitting judges on civil, criminal, family, and appellate matters
Named judicial endorsements	KingChief Justice Robert P. Young Jr. (Ret.), Chief Judge Jeffery S. Matis (current), multiple sitting and retired Circuit and Court of Appeals judges
Gubernatorial appointment	NeilsonAppointed Wayne County Probate Court by Gov. Snyder (R), August 2012; re-elected 2014 and 2016
Children & family law recognition	HattenSandra Silver Advocate for Children Award (2017, Oakland Circuit Family Division); Super Lawyers Rising Star 2015, 2017–2020
Criminal defense credentials	HattenLL.M. Criminal Defense, California Western; National Criminal Defense College graduate; CDAM board member
Prior judicial candidacy	Hatten, NeilsonHatten ran for Circuit Judge 2020 (unsuccessful). Neilson ran for Court of Appeals 2024 (disqualified from primary).

Victoria King

Judicial staff attorney, Oakland County 6th Circuit Court

Current roleJudicial staff attorney, Oakland County 6th Circuit Court — researches legal issues, drafts opinions, advises judges on civil, criminal, family, and appellate matters TenureNearly 11 years for Judge Leo Bowman (ret.), followed by two years in private practice, then returned to the court — over a decade total Bar involvementLongtime Oakland County Bar Association member and leadership participant Named endorsersChief Justice Robert P. Young Jr. (Ret.), Chief Judge Jeffery S. Matis, Chief Judge Barry L. Howard (Ret.), Chief Judge Wendy L. Potts (Ret.), Judge James Alexander (Ret.), Judge Leo Bowman (Ret.), Judge Mary Ellen Brennan, Judge David M. Cohen, Judge Colleen A. O'Brien, and others (victoriakingforjudge.com)

Research note: King's endorser list is drawn from current and retired Michigan Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Circuit Court judges. No Democratic or progressive organizational endorsements found in public sources. Campaign emphasis: operational readiness and deep familiarity with the court's docket and procedures.

Lisa Marie Neilson

Former Wayne County Probate Court judge (2012–2022) — only candidate with prior bench experience

Current roleManaging Partner, Lipson Neilson PC Prior benchAppointed Wayne County Probate Court by Gov. Rick Snyder (R), August 22, 2012; re-elected 2014 and 2016; served until 2022 — 10 years Prior to benchOf counsel, Dickinson Wright; Partner, Zivian & Neilson; staff attorney, Oakland County Probate Court EducationB.A., Madonna University; J.D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School; M.S.W., University of Michigan School of Social Work AffiliationsPhi Kappa Phi (academic honor society) 2024 candidacyRan for Michigan 2nd District Court of Appeals in 2024; disqualified from the August 2024 primary

Research note: Neilson is the only candidate with prior judicial experience. Her appointment by a Republican governor and her earlier work as a staff attorney at Oakland County Probate Court give her the broadest judicial résumé. Circumstances of her 2024 disqualification were not detailed in public sources reviewed.

Nadine Renee Hatten

Juvenile Referee, Oakland County Circuit Court Family Division — 16 years legal practice

Current roleJuvenile Referee, Oakland County Circuit Court, Family Division — presides over juvenile delinquency and child neglect cases Prior legal rolesDistrict Court Magistrate (Hazel Park); private defense attorney; Special Prosecutor, Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Teaching career15 years, Detroit Public Schools; elected union steward; named “Teacher of the Year” by Fox 2 News Detroit EducationB.A. Spanish + Teaching Certificate, University of Michigan; M.A. Educational Administration, Wayne State University; J.D., Wayne State University Law School; LL.M. Criminal Defense, California Western School of Law RecognitionSandra Silver Advocate for Children Award, Oakland Circuit Court Family Division (2017); Super Lawyers Rising Star (2015, 2017–2020) Bar involvementOakland County Bar Association; board member, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM); graduate, National Criminal Defense College Prior candidacyRan for Oakland County Circuit Judge in 2020; did not win

Research note: Hatten has the most advanced academic credentials of the three candidates (four degrees including an LL.M.) and the deepest family and juvenile court specialization. Her teaching career, MDHHS prosecutorial work, and community advocacy background give her a broad public-service profile. Endorsement network not fully researched at time of writing.

Race 2 of 2

Oakland County Probate Court Judge

Vote for 1. Open seat: Judge Daniel A. O'Brien cannot seek re-election under Michigan’s judicial age limit.

Probate Court — At a Glance

Criterion	Detail
Probate-specific practice depth	DeryPartner leading 16-member specialist team; over a decade in guardianship, conservatorship, estates, elder law, government benefits
Bar association leadership	DeryChair, Oakland County Bar Association Probate, Estate & Trust Committee
VA accreditation	DeryVA Accredited Attorney — qualified to assist veterans with benefits claims
Judicial family background	HallmarkFamily judicial legacy; broad community ties across Oakland County
Publicly documented record	Dery, HallmarkWorthy-Williams has the thinnest publicly available professional record of the three at time of research; see her Oakland County Times interview (July 8, 2026) for her own account

Elisabeth Dery

Partner, Yun Dery & Morgan — specialist probate and elder-law attorney, Clarkston

Current rolePartner, Yun Dery & Morgan — leads 16-member legal team helping clients access government benefits, secure housing, and receive daily care support Practice areasElder law, probate, estate planning, guardianship, conservatorship, Special Needs Trust administration, Medicaid and VA benefits Bar leadershipChair, Oakland County Bar Association Probate, Estate & Trust Committee AccreditationVA Accredited Attorney; member, State Bar of Michigan LGBTQA Committee EducationB.A., University of Maryland; J.D., Western Michigan University–Cooley Law School (2012) ResidenceRoyal Oak, Michigan

Research note: Dery’s specialist practice directly matches the subject matter of Oakland County Probate Court. Her OCBA committee chairship in the exact practice area of this court is a meaningful credential. Her VA accreditation adds a dimension relevant to veteran families in Oakland County.

Jessica Ann Hallmark

Attorney — judicial family background, Oakland County community ties

Jessica Ann Hallmark comes from a family with a judicial legacy and has built community ties across Oakland County. Detailed public information on her specific legal practice areas was not readily available through public sources at the time this guide was prepared.

Voters are encouraged to review her Oakland County Bar Association candidate questionnaire at ocba.org/judicial_candidates and her Oakland County Times candidate interview for a fuller picture of her qualifications.

Sheila Calvary Worthy-Williams

Candidate for Oakland County Probate Court

Sheila Calvary Worthy-Williams is a candidate for the open Probate Court seat. Limited publicly available professional background information was findable through news sources and public records at the time this guide was prepared.

Voters are encouraged to review her Oakland County Times candidate interview published July 8, 2026, at oaklandcounty115.com, and her OCBA candidate questionnaire at ocba.org/judicial_candidates.