Moneka Sanford, an attorney who reports more than 23 years in private practice, is running for judge of the 47th District Court in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

She faces Michael Sawicky for one six-year seat in the nonpartisan contest, according to the Michigan Department of State’s candidate list. The court serves Farmington and Farmington Hills, according to its official website.

The following responses come from the Farmington Focus candidate questionnaire. Direct quotations are Sanford’s own words and have been excerpted for length. Additional information is attributed to public sources throughout.

Asked why she is running, Sanford emphasized fairness, legal experience and public service.

“I am seeking elective office because the judiciary is where a commitment to fairness, integrity, and public service can make a lasting difference,” she wrote.

She said her legal and social-work experience would inform her approach to the bench.

“Everyone who enters the courtroom deserves to be heard and treated with dignity, fairness, and respect,” she wrote.

Candidate information

Education: Sanford reported earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1994, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1998 and a law degree from Wayne State University in 2003.

Family: “I am the proud mother of two adult sons, and I share my home with their father,” Sanford wrote.

She said raising her family in the community strengthened her desire to serve it.

Political affiliation: Sanford declined to identify a party affiliation in connection with her candidacy.

“This is a nonpartisan judicial election, and my campaign is focused on my qualifications and my ability to apply the law fairly,” she wrote.

Prior elected or appointed office: Sanford reported that she has not held an elected or appointed position.

Experience and public service

Sanford said she owns the Law Offices of Moneka L. Sanford, PLLC, and has represented clients in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties, as well as in federal court.

Her practice includes criminal defense, family law, probate, civil litigation, landlord-tenant disputes, zoning and mediation, according to her questionnaire.

She reported handling felony and misdemeanor cases, child abuse and neglect proceedings, custody and divorce disputes, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions and estate disputes.

Sanford also said she has served as a guardian ad litem, a court-appointed representative, and spent 15 years as a defense attorney for the Oakland County Juvenile Drug Court.

Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a foster-care case manager.

“This combined legal and social-work experience gives me a deep understanding of the legal and personal circumstances that come before the court,” she wrote.

Her campaign biography also lists clerkships with Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Joan Young and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

On the issues

Fair treatment and support services: Asked about the biggest challenge facing the court system, Sanford emphasized equal treatment and access to services.

“One of the greatest priorities for our justice system is ensuring that every person continues to be treated fairly and equally, regardless of income, race, mental health, or substance use,” she wrote.

She supports expanding access to treatment courts, mental health services and substance use programs while maintaining accountability and public safety.

Technology and access: Sanford supports remote hearings when appropriate, electronic filing, online court information and online payment options. She said those tools can reduce transportation barriers, missed work and delays.

Case management and due process: Sanford said courts can reduce delays through timely scheduling, early identification of issues and fewer unnecessary adjournments.

“Efficiency must never come at the expense of adequate time to prepare, present their positions, and be heard,” she wrote.

She also identified adequate staffing, legal defense services for people who cannot afford counsel and community resources as important to an accessible court system.

Clear communication: Sanford said court procedures should be understandable to the people using them.

“Judges and court staff should use plain language so that everyone understands their rights, responsibilities, and options,” she wrote.

Advice and judicial temperament: Asked about the best advice she had received, Sanford recalled a mentor telling her: “Never take anything personally. Go in prepared, do your best, and understand that people will not always be happy with the outcome.”

She said that advice has helped her remain prepared, respectful and composed during disagreements.

Voters can find additional information about Sanford’s background and campaign on her website.