How to File a Grievance
Anyone may file a request for investigation (or “grievance”) against a state judge, magistrate, or referee on the Commission’s complaint form. A copy of the Request for Investigation form can be requested by telephone at (313) 875-5110, or may be downloaded by clicking here. (Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the downloaded file. To get Acrobat Reader, click here.)
The court rules require that each person filing the grievance (“the grievant”) have his or her signature verified (i.e., notarized) to establish that he or she has sworn to the truthfulness of the statements made in the grievance. Although a second grievant is optional, if two individuals are identified as submitting the document, each must sign the form with a separate notarization. The Request for Investigation form has an area for a second signature and notarization, which should be filled out only if a second person joins in the complaint. There is a maximum of two grievants per Request for Investigation form.
The submission may include copies (not originals) of any relevant documents or transcripts. Because of the requirements of an original signature and verification by a notary public, Requests for Investigation cannot be accepted electronically (that is, by e-mail or facsimile). Therefore, Requests for Investigation and any accompanying documents must be submitted to:
JUDICIAL TENURE COMMISSION
3034 WEST GRAND BOULEVARD
SUITE 8-450DETROIT, MI 48202
Please note: Regardless of the resolution of the matter, the Commission will not return or photocopy materials that are provided to it by the grievant, or produce documents that are otherwise obtained in the course of the investigation process. The grievant should maintain copies of the materials submitted to the Commission.
The Commission may also institute an investigation on its own, or at the request of the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court or the State Court Administrator. The Commission may also consider complaints made anonymously (if submitted in writing), and it may open a file into matters it learns of in other ways, such as news articles or information received in the course of a Commission investigation.
After a request for investigation is filed, the Commission and its staff acts as expeditiously as possible yet gives every complaint careful attention. The Commission determines the scope of the staff’s investigation. If the Commission needs additional facts or information from the grievant, a member of the staff will contact the grievant. After the investigation, the grievant will be advised of the Commission’s resolution of the grievance. For a summary of the investigative proceedings, please refer to the Complaint Process page. For common inquiries regarding the Commission's operations, please refer to the FAQs ("Frequently Asked Questions") page.