Electoral College subject of foundation mock trial

The Macomb County Bar Foundation will conduct its third annual Historical Mock Trial on Tuesday, Nov. 21 with the topic “Should The Electoral College be Abolished?”

The trial — with the mock setting a U.S. Senate hearing — will be held at the Macomb Center for Performing Arts in Clinton Township.

The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with the event starting at 11:00 a.m. and concluding by 1:00 p.m.

The audience, acting as members of the Senate, will vote on the matter at the conclusion of the “hearing.”

The foundation has brought several Macomb County public officials together to play the role of senators and witnesses to provide testimony for and against amending the U.S. Constitution to abolish the Electoral College.

Other public officials will play the role of Senate Special Committee members.

Dr. Casandra Ulbrich, co-president of the State Board of Education and vice president of Macomb Community College for Community Affairs, and State Sen. Steve Bieda of Warren will play the role of U.S. senators sponsoring the amendment to abolish.

They will call 37th District Court Judge John Chmura to provide testimony and context supporting abolishment.

Opposing the amendment to abolish will be Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Carl Marlinga and attorney Laura Polizzi, who will call Roseville City Treasurer Mickey Switalski to provide testimony and context against the amendment.

Judge Michael Chupa of 37th District Court will introduce the parties and further explain the proceedings.

Chupa’s colleague on the 37th District Court bench, Judge Matthew Sabaugh, will act as vice president of the United States, with the responsibility of serving as president of the Senate.

Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham will serve as the sergeant at arms and attorney Bill Barnwell will serve as the understudy for all the above positions.

Stephen Steinhardt, a members of the foundation board, serves at co-producer of the event.

Rick Troy, executive director of the Macomb County Bar Foundation, said he is “thrilled that live debate has become a popular format for the foundation to deliver real lessons of civic and legal education”.

Last year, nearly 300 people  attended the mock trial on the topic of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and Troy said he expected a similar audience at this month’s event.

Troy emphasized the foundation takes no position on the topic.

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