Noah Hood
Non-Partisan | Michigan
Candidate Profile*
Activist
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
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WORK & MILITARY
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AFFILIATIONS
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POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
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POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
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ENDORSEMENTS*
LIBERAL (26)
Michigan AFL-CIO
American Federation of Teachers AFT Michigan
Eric Holder
*Justice Opportunity Liberty Politico JOLPOL
National Democratic Redistricting Committee
OTHER (1)
Michigan Realtors PAC RPAC
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (8)
Building Bridges PAC (MI) (2023)
The Black Slate (2023)
Gretchen Whitmer (2022)
Michigan Association for Justice (2022)
Local, County, and District Democratic Organizations (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
When asked about judicial philosophy, Hood stated he is not “textualist” or “originalist” and that “it's taken me a while to come up with a good answer because I'm not super-ideological” explaining “most” of his work “sticks to the text pretty evenly” and “I do look to discern the intent of the Legislature when passing bills or enacting a constitutional change,” labeling his ideology as strictly “fact-based.”
In People v. Madison (2026), in which Justice Hood concurred, the Michigan Supreme Court overturned its earlier decision in People v. Carpenter and held that defendants may present evidence of mental illness or intellectual disability to argue that they lacked the specific intent required for certain crimes, even if they were not legally insane. The ruling allows defendants to use diminished-capacity evidence to challenge whether they had the required intent. Hood agreed with the decision but expressed serious concerns about its impact on Michigan courts. He warned that it could greatly increase mental-health evaluations, strain an already backlogged forensic system, and lead to many new appeals and requests for review of past convictions.
In People v. Seuell (2025), in which Judge Noah Hood joined the unanimous opinion, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a conviction for carrying a concealed pistol in a vehicle without a concealed-pistol license. The defendant argued that the law was unconstitutional under New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen and that the term “readily accessible” was too vague. The Court rejected both arguments, following its earlier decision that Michigan’s concealed-pistol-license requirement does not violate the Second Amendment.
In Ann Arbor Police Officers Association v. City of Ann Arbor (2023), in which Judge Noah Hood joined the unanimous opinion, the Michigan Court of Appeals held that a Michigan law banning certain government employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccines did not apply to the City of Ann Arbor. City employees challenged the City’s vaccine mandate, arguing that the law prohibited it. The Court found that the law only applied to certain state departments and officials receiving specific state funding, not to Ann Arbor. The decision therefore allowed the City to enforce its COVID-19 vaccine
QUESTIONNAIRE*
RIGHT TO LIFE
Was Dobbs v. Jackson rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: In Dobbs, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the federal constitution does not confer a right to abortion.)
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Does the federal Constitution support the right to physician assisted suicide? Please explain in light of Washington v. Glucksberg (1997).
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Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
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How do you view the judiciary’s role in matters of abortion regulation following Dobbs?
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RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Do you believe religious liberty is at risk in the United States. If so, what is the judiciary's proper role in addressing this issue?
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Does the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment require government to be strictly secular or does it allow for the nation's religious heritage?
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Was Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held tha the state may not show religious hostility when enforcing anti-discrimination laws against a business owner.)
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VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
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What is your understanding of parental rights under the Constitution regarding the upbringing of children, particularly regarding choices about education and sexual identity?
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Is gender identity a protected class under the Constitution? Please explain the constitutional basis for your view.
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ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
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Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
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I voted in these primaries and general elections:
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JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
Describe your judicial philosophy.
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Do you believe judges should primarily apply the law according to its original public meaning, or do you believe the law evolves over time to reflect contemporary values?
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Which current or past U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
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Was Obergefell v. Hodges rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses create a right for same-sex couples to marry.)
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A. How should a judge approach a case where the constitutional or statutory text is clear on its face? B. Conversely, how should a judge proceed when the text is ambiguous or silent on a disputed issue?
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What is your view of judicial restraint versus judicial activism? How do you define each?
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What is the proper role of a judge?
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When applying or interpreting the text of a statute or constitutional provision, is it ever proper for a judge to consider present day public opinion or consequences?
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If precedent departs from the Constitution’s text or original meaning, should a judge follow it or correct the error? Please explain.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
The burden of proof in a criminal case is generally that the state must provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Some say the reason the burden of proof is so high is because we greatly value ensuring that the innocent are not unjustly imprisoned. Please comment on this topic.
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When reviewing wrongful conviction claims, what role, if any, should judges play in determining remedies?
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2ND AMENDMENT
What is your understanding of the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms?
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OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Which branch of government do you believe was intended to wield the most authority?
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