Featured photo (not video): Honorable Nathaniel J. Perry III thanked those who have supported him during his long tenure at a recent portrait unveiling honoring him prior to his retirement.
Written by Tanya Terry
The Honorable Nathaniel J. Perry III is retiring after 29 years of dedicated service to the District Courts in Genesee County, and at a Nov. 3 portrait unveiling held in his honor family, friends and public officials wished him the best in his future endeavors. At the McCree Courts and Human Services Building in downtown Flint, those who offered words of congratulations and praise for the impact Perry has had on the Flint community included Perry’s children, Judge Christopher R. Odette of the 67th District Court, Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Judge Elect Tabitha Marsh, as well as many, many others.
Perry’s son, Nate Perry, spoke on Zoom first during the presentation. He thanked everyone for putting the program together and thanked his father for having a long tenure.
“I’m sure he enjoyed his time,” his son said. “He’s not going to know how to sit still obviously when this is all said and done. So, this will be short lived to be honest. But, I want to thank everybody for being a part of this; being a part of his journey.”
Odette said he was honored to be asked to participate in the celebration of the career of Judge Nate Perry and said he knew him so long he knew him when he was just known as “Nate Perry.”
“On behalf of the 67th District Court judges and the staff of the 67th District Court, we congratulate and salute Judge Perry on his service to the community and to the court,” Odette said. “We found him to be an outstanding judge and even a better person. Everybody here likes him. If you’ve known him in the court, if you’ve known him outside of the court, you can’t help but like Judge Perry. As a lawyer and as a judge, he has qualities that made him, I guess, if we had a Mount Rushmore of judges here, his head would be carved in that Mount Rushmore-because he has integrity and outstanding legal ability.”
Odette pointed out Perry was experienced, with 30 years as a judge and being a lawyer, teacher and coach previously.
Perry originally served on the 68th District Court, which was merged into the 67th District in January 2016.
According to Ballotpedia, on November 4, 2014, Perry was re-elected unopposed for another six-year term commencing on January 1, 2015 and expiring on December 31, 2020.
Odette said Perry as much as any single judge in this county was the contributing key when the courts consolidated.
“For that we shall be forever grateful,” Odette said.
The Michigan Supreme Court passed a resolution submitted by Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, which was handed to Perry during the presentation. The resolution recognized Perry’s service and was signed by all seven justices of the Michigan Supreme Court, proving Perry’s reputation was not limited to Flint and Genesee County. All 10 judges of the 67th District Court joined in the resolution.
Neeley said Perry had been a great role model to many in the community, including himself and thanked Perry on behalf of the residents of the city of Flint. Neeley also recognized Perry’s long tenure.
“Six terms is a long time,” he said.
Neeley said that was longer than he had been alive, arousing laughter and saying he was “only being serious.”
“As mayor of the great city of Flint, I also will honor you today with a key to the city for a long life achievement award of being a great community patriot,” Neeley said. “You will soon get the key to the city of Flint, and that honor will be mounted, and this day will be Judge Perry the Third Day in the city of Flint”
Neeley said he especially wanted to thank Perry on behalf of young African American men in the community.
Judge Elect Tabitha Marsh said it was her honor and privilege to succeed Perry’s seat on the bench.
“When I was out campaigning, people would ask about which seat I was pursuing, and I would mention your name, and I heard nothing but wonderful, good things about you and how fair you were as a judge in the work that you’ve done in this community,” Marsh said.
She said it seemed she has enormous shoes to fill.
Perry said it had been his pleasure to serve the citizens of this community. He also said he has always been somewhat of a workaholic, and he liked his job as judge of the District Courts in Genesee County. Perry said his mother was alive when his journey started, he lost her unfortunately one month shy of her 100th birthday in 2017, and he wished she could be there to see the portrait unveiled that day, which commemorates the career Perry developed and had throughout his time in Flint and Genesee County. Perry said he had reached the pinnacle of his legal career because of the support of others, and said he looked forward to the court’s growth, expressing that it was in good hands.
“Through your votes, through your voices, I really want you to know that I appreciate you and all that you’ve done in order to make this journey a successful one,” Perry said.
