CANTON – Canton Town Justice Michael Morgan is seeking reelection to his position.

Morgan, who has served the last three years as justice, said it has been an honor serving and is seeking votes this November.

“I am working towards starting a local veteran’s court to assist our veterans who suffer from addictions or psychological problems and find themselves in town court,” Morgan said. “This court would be at no additional cost to our local taxpayers but would require more work from the town justice.

The Town of Canton Court has two judges. Morgan has worked with Judge Rosemary Phillips for the past several years, and more recently with Judge Rachelle Foster.

“Every year, all judges, whether attorney or non-attorney, are required to attend legal training and are then tested by the state,” Morgan said. “I have furthered my training by attending additional sessions that were not required. Also, I am one of only four judges in the county that have been designated as a judge for off-hour juvenile arraignments when family court is not in session.”

Endeavoring to keep his campaign promises, Morgan said he has been available for after-hour arraignments and other calls for service, most often in the middle of the night, occasionally several times in the same night, completing well over 100 annually.

“I continue to work to make the court more efficient by utilizing technology and better scheduling. I have moved stagnate cases forward that have lingered in the court for several years. In addressing the drug addiction problems in our area, I have attempted to assist those that find themselves in my court due to their chemical dependency issues. I have encouraged those who have appeared before me to follow through with their sobriety and assisted them by contacting other agencies for help. In many instances, I’ve sent them to go to a drug rehabilitation facility instead of sending them to the county jail,” he said

Morgan assisted the court in obtaining about $58,000 in state grant money to which lowered the tax burden for local Canton residents.

“I continue to work through the challenges created by bail reform and the COVID-19 pandemic, doing my best to keep the court operating as it should,” Morgan said. “It is my sincere hope that Canton voters will consider reelecting me to another term as their town justice.”