Courts · November 3, 2026

Third Circuit Court · Partial term

What this office does

Wayne County’s Circuit Court hears serious criminal charges, major civil disputes and family cases. Judges apply the law to disputes that can affect liberty, family relationships and property; their assigned divisions may change.

Michigan · Judicial Branch

1 listed candidate · Vote for no more than 1

Term ends January 1, 2031 · Incumbent position

Canton Precinct 8 sample ballot · PDF page 2 · Names and voting limits follow this sample.

Why a partial term?

This election fills the remainder of the seat vacated by Judge Charles Hegarty’s resignation; Aliyah Sabree was appointed to that vacancy in 2025.

Michigan Supreme Court · Sabree appointment notice

Uncontested on the supplied printed ballot

The number of listed candidates equals the number of seats. This does not rule out qualified write-ins. These are brief background profiles, not endorsements.

You may leave any race blank; your votes in other races still count. University of Michigan · ballot basics

How to read judicial records

Research reviewed October 12, 2026. We have not verified a 2026 bar poll or evaluation for the candidates below. Dated historical evaluations are identified separately; an unverified rating is not a negative rating.

The Detroit Bar’s Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee assesses qualifications. Its evaluations are not a poll of all lawyers or a party endorsement. A “No Rating/Did Not Participate” entry does not establish that a candidate is unqualified.

Opinion examples illustrate specific reasoning, not a complete record or ranking. We distinguish authorship, joining an opinion, and dissent. Trial-court rulings are not uniformly published; a missing example is a research gap, not a judgment about experience.

Detroit Bar · evaluation process and current information

See this race’s local club endorsements ↓

Nonpartisan

Aliyah S. Sabree

Background

Sitting judge; Family — Juvenile Section in the January 2026 court directory.

Judicial record

Appointment or election history: Appointed to the 36th District Court in 2017, then to the Third Circuit by Governor Whitmer in 2025, filling Charles Hegarty’s vacancy.
Governor’s appointment announcement · May 15, 2025
Bar evaluation: A current rating has not yet been verified. See the research note above.
Opinion example: No individual written-opinion example has yet been reviewed for this candidate.

Sources

Third Circuit · Officials and Contacts (January 27, 2026)
Court directory · Division assignments as of the directory date; assignments may change. Ballot names may be shortened differently in this directory.

Reviewed October 1, 2026.

Office and ballot references: Michigan · Judicial Branch, Ballotpedia · Wayne County municipal elections, 2026.

Source directory for this office

Local club endorsements

Published club choices, not GuruG recommendations or professional ratings. “Not listed” does not mean opposed.

Canton Democratic Club: Not listed in the reviewed guide.

Plymouth Canton Republicans Club: Not listed in the reviewed guide.

Club sources reviewed October 6, 2026; follow the linked source pages for updates.