50 Attorneys Say They've Got Judge Lisa Gorcyca's Back

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BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI – A cadre of attorneys who practice family law in Oakland County have issued a statement in support of embattled Judge Lisa Gorcyca, who faces possible discipline by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission over her handling of an acrimonious custody battle involving three Bloomfield Hills children.

Fifty lawyers and the Birmingham law firm of Lippitt O’Keefe Gornbein, PLLC, signed the statement, which said:

“Family law is one of the most difficult areas of practice. Judges and attorneys have to deal with sensitive and often contentious issues. These include child custody, child support, parenting time, spousal support, and the division of assets and debts. These issues are compounded by the emotional turmoil of unhappy people who may be worried or resentful of the fact that they are going through a divorce in the first place. Domestic violence, parental alienation, difficult personalities, or a combination of all three, only further complicate these cases. Too often, judges see good people on their worst behavior.

“We are all attorneys who regularly practice family law in Michigan’s Oakland County and appear before the Honorable Lisa Gorcyca. We can attest to her compassion for families and her desire to zealously uphold the law. She considers all arguments before making a decision and she does not rush to judgment. Her greatest concern is the best interest of the children involved in divorce, custody, and parenting time disputes.

“Judge Gorcyca has served on the Family Court bench for nearly eight years and has gained a reputation as being a conscientious and even-handed judge. She treats litigants and attorneys with courtesy and respect.

“Recently, we believe that there has been a rush to judgment concerning a particularly public case. As practitioners who have dedicated our careers to family law, we are offering our support to Lisa Gorcyca, both as a jurist and as an individual.”

Gorcyca has until Jan. 21 to file her response to the two-count complaint. In it, the Judicial Tenure Association accuses Gorcyca of misconduct and for making false statements to the commission in response to its initial inquiry into her handling of the long-running case involving the three minor children of Maya Eibschitz-Tsimhoni, of Bloomfield Hills, and Omer Tsimhoni, of West Bloomfield.

The Judicial Tenure Commission took issue with Gorcyca for statements she made when she ordered the three children to Oakland County Children’s Village for refusing to have lunch with their estranged father.

She ordered the oldest of the three handcuffed and led from the courtroom after she compared him to cult leader Charlie Manson. The complaint said Gorcyca “laughed at the children and was sarcastic;” that she “failed to act in a patient, dignified and courteous manner;” and that she made “significant misrepresentations of law and fact.”

On Dec. 28, Gorcyca recused herself from the proceedings. She said at the time that she wasn’t biased against either party, but said the looming Judicial Tenure Commission complaint “may create an appearance of impropriety.”

However, Gorcyca’s attorney, Thomas Cranmer, has said he is confident she will be vindicated and the complaint will be dismissed.

Besides the law firm, the statement was signed by:

Norman L. Lippitt, Henry S. Gornbein, Lise M. Spresser, Gilbert Gugni, Keela P. Gracey, Mark S. Papazian, Matthew S. Weaver, LeRoy H. Wulfmeier III, John F. Schaefer and Mark A. Bank.

Also, B. Andrew Rifkin, Irika N. Mellin, Kristen L. Robinson, Harriet B. Rotter, Nancy K. Stone, Lorne B. Gold, Edward D. Gold, Randi P. Glanz, Ada Kerwin and Timothy T. Fryhoff.

Also, William O. Lynch, Robert Z. Feldstein, Daniel B. Bates, C. Lynn Gates, Daniel Findling, Susan E. Cohen, Michael A. Robbins, Kurt E. Schnelz, Robert E. Kostin and Donald E. McGinnis Jr.

Also, Lynn Capp Sirich, Leslie Neil Greenwald, Albert L. Holtz, Susan E. Paletz, Renée K. Gucciardo, Ronald W. Tolbert II, James P. Cunningham, James J. Harrington III, Mathew Kobliska and Sheldon G. Larky.

Also, Douglas A. Hyman, Lowell S. Friedman, James D. Moriarty, Gerald A. Gordinier, Kari B. Schlaff, Andrea Badalucco, Sabrina S. Cronin, Eden J. Allyn and Kristin M. Smith, Nazli G. Sater.

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