Battle of the Bands set for Jan. 31

 It’s Jackson County versus Lenawee County in a Battle of the Bands with a legal twist.

In what has to be one of the more unique musical offerings in the area, a Battle of the Bands, fronted by two local judges, will be held on Jan. 31 at Jackson Symphony Orchestra Hall, 215 W. Michigan Ave., in Jackson.
The program begins at 2 p.m. with each band performing back to back and the announcement of the winner to follow. Band leaders include Judge Daniel Goostrey of the 12th District Court of Jackson and Chief Judge Gregg Iddings, Lenawee County Probate Court. 
The event is designed to showcase the Southeastern Dispute Resolution Service (SDRS) according to Executive Director Marc Stanley and Ron Brooks, Director of Volunteers and Training.
“We were formerly affiliated with the Community Action Agency,” Brooks said, himself a noted area jazz bassist. “Just this year, we have become a stand-alone 501c3  eligible entity and wanted to come up with a fun event that would let the community know about our new status and help raise funds for operations.”
Ticket cost is $15 Brooks said and will be available before the event and at the Symphony Hall box office.
In addition to Stanley and Brooks, the SDRS features 25 to 30 active volunteer mediators, Brooks said. He added that the SDRS is always looking for volunteers to join the team and trainings are offered several times during the year. No prior education or training is required he said.
The SDRS is active in Jackson, Lenawee, Hillsdale and Monroe counties assisting with small claims issues, tenant/landlord cases, contractual disputes or faulty repair complaints, probate issues, parenting time/divorce related issues, juvenile issues referred by the courts and broad range of school issues, including special education. 
Services have the greatest growth in school, landlord tenant and family matters; and volunteers are needed to work with new School Peer Mediation/Restorative Justice projects and Landlord Tenant Clinic with the Jackson District Court, Brooks said.
He added that the Landlord Tenant Clinic has been particularly beneficial in reducing the court caseload. “The project is being done in conjunction with Legal Aid and we have our volunteer mediators working with landlords and tenants before they go before a judge. By opening communications, we often see a resolution of the dispute with the case either dismissed or an agreement put on the record. This greatly expedites these types of cases,” Brooks explained.
Musicians for Judge Goostrey’s band include, Herb Flowers, Johnnie Trammel, Rafe Tenny, Cindy Bellew, and Jim Kulas. Judge Idding’s band has yet to be announced. The judges panel will include retired Jackson County Friend of the Court and referee Janet Gage, Jackson attorney Stephen Conley, and Howard Abrams, professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

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