About Me
About Mark Gatesman
Devoted to Justice!
Mark Gatesman is a candidate for Circuit Court Judge with over 25 years of legal experience with a Michigan and Florida license. Family law, divorce, child custody, personal protection orders, name changes, civil litigation, and felony criminal cases are among the cases he has handled in the Circuit Court.
Livingston County native Mark Gatesman is running for the open 44th Circuit Court seat, a seat being vacated by a retiring judge.
Mark has worked as a trial attorney in state courts across Michigan, including the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Circuit Courts. Additionally, he has made appearances in both the Northern and Southern Divisions of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Experienced Background and Community Leadership
Mark's Parents' Service to Livingston County:
- Father: Charles B. Gatesman – lawyer, a private practitioner after serving as Livingston County’s elected prosecutor in the 1960s
- Mother: Shirley Gatesman – devoted teacher at the Howell Public Schools
Leadership in the Community:
- Former President, Livingston County Bar Association
- Board of Trustees, Howell Carnegie District Library (legacy member following his grandmother Lillie Gatesman’s tenure in the 1970s)
- Organizer and chair of the Livingston County Bar’s “Run for Justice” charity event in 2009, 2012, and 2014, raising over $30,000 for local causes such as Gleaners Food Bank and The Connection
Professional Licenses:
- Member of the Florida Bar
- Member of the Michigan Bar
- Admitted to the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- Admitted to the United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
A Reliable Experience
Mission
Mark Gatesman is dedicated to making sure that everyone who walks into the courtroom is treated with respect and decency and that every case is determined honestly and without outside interference, based only on the law and the facts.
Vision
To create a Livingston County judicial system that respects fundamental rights, safeguards Due Process, and follows the written Constitution. Mark would be a judge who would never legislate from the bench.
Excellence in the Profession and Community Impact
Mark’s training at the state and national levels has given him a thorough understanding of the functions and effects of specialized courts.
An Effective Approach to Justice:
Mark believes the county’s specialty courts help address addiction and mental health challenges, save lives, reunite families, restore individuals to work, and reduce taxpayer costs by lowering incarceration rates. Livingston County has three specialty courts:
- Sobriety Court (for alcohol and drug-related cases)
- Intensive Treatment (IT) Court (for mental health and substance abuse issues)
- Veterans Court (serving U.S. military veterans with substance abuse, mental health, or PTSD issues)
Professional Recognition:
- Member, Inns of Court, Bradenton, Florida
- Nominated for “Brief of the Year,” Thomas Cooley Law School (People v. Tanner, Supreme Court No. 146211) for appellate writing recognized by the Michigan Supreme Court
Family Life
Mark has been married to Carolyn Gatesman, Associate Director at Optum Health, for over two decades.
They have two children: Lily, who attends the University of South Carolina, and Blake, a high school senior and incoming freshman at Northern Michigan University.
Support the Campaign!
Your donation supports a campaign that is based on honesty, expertise, and respect for the law. Each donation helps Livingston County’s community involvement, voter education, and outreach efforts.
By working together, we can advance a court system based on justice, accountability, and Due Process.
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Law Office of Mark Gatesman PLC 1360
W Grand River Ave Howell, MI 48843 - mgatesman@comcast.net
- 517 546 4700