Ukrainian Americans host justice of Michigan Supreme Court

WARREN, Mich. - Michigan Supreme Court Justice Stephen J. Markman, who helped draft the Constitution of Ukraine in 1996, met with Ukrainian Americans at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren, Mich., on September 27.

Justice Markman was introduced to the gathering, a monthly meeting of Warren seniors, by District Judge John Chmura of the 37th District Court of Michigan and four-term Warren City Councilman and Ukrainian American Mike Chupa, who is running for Warren County commissioner.

Also present at the gathering were Bohdan Melnyk, secretary of the Right to Life organization of Warren and Centerline; the Rev. Philip Sandrick, pastor of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church; Bohdan Fedorak, honorary consul of Ukraine for the state of Michigan and president of the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren; Zenon Wasylkewych of the Ukrainian Cultural Center; and Carolyn Pikula, administrator of Immaculate Conception Ukrainian High School.

High school seniors Marika Brezden, Natalie Lawrin and Mykola Stewart came dressed in Ukrainian ethnic costumes for the gathering and presented Justice Markman with a traditional Ukrainian greeting of bread and salt. Additionally, flowers and a book were given to Justice Markman in appreciation of his work for Michigan, America and Ukraine.

Mr. Fedorak then lead a group composed of Justice Markman, the Rev. Sandrick, Ms. Pikula, Messrs. Chmura and Chupa, and seniors from Immaculate Conception High School in a tour of an exposition titled "The Communist Inquisition in Ukraine," which was on display at the cultural center. Community activist Roman Kuropas helped arrange the meeting between Justice Markman and Mr. Fedorak.

Justice Markman thanked everyone for a warm welcome and for their support; he promised to visit the high school and community in the future. He paid a short visit to Lidya Wroblewska, president of Michigan's Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and to the Ukrainian Future Credit Union, where he met with Treasurer/Manager Andrew Jakymowych and Mr. Chmura.

Justice Markman was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court by Gov. John Engler on October 1, 1999, to fill the seat left vacant by a retired judge. In 2000 he was elected to a term that will end on January 1, 2005, according to the official website of the Michigan state court system.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 17, 2004, No. 42, Vol. LXXII

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