Press Release Archives
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Hon. mary brouillette BARGLIND files answer to Formal Complaint No. 83
DETROIT, MI, March 18, 2008 -- Judge Mary Brouillette Barglind has filed an answer to Formal Complaint No. 83.
A copy of the answer (without attachments, which are available for review at the Commission office) may be accessed by clicking here.
Hon. Steven Servaas files answer to Formal Complaint No. 84
DETROIT, MI, February 29, 2008 -- Judge Steven Servaas has filed an answer to Formal Complaint No. 84, and a brief in opposition to the Commission's petition for interim suspension.
A copy of the answer (without attachments, which are available for review at the Commission office) may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the brief in opposition to the Commission's petition for interim suspension (without attachments, which are available for review at the Commission office) may be accessed by clicking here.
JUDICIAL TENURE COMMISSION INSTITUTES FORMAL COMPLAINT NO. 84 CONCERNING JUDGE STEVEN SERVAAS, 63-1 DISTRICT COURT
DETROIT, MI, February 19, 2008 -- The Judicial Tenure Commission has instituted formal proceedings against Judge Steven R. Servaas of the 63-1 District Court located in Rockford, Michigan. The proceedings are commenced by the filing of a formal complaint, which, in this case, alleges that Judge Servaas has moved outside the geographical limits he is required to live in by statute. As such, the complaint alleges, he has vacated or abandoned his judicial office. In addition, it is alleged that Judge Servaas made sexually crude comments to female court employees and has made crude sexual drawings and shown them as well.
The Tenure Commission has also filed a petition in the Michigan Supreme Court to have Judge Servaas suspended pending the resolution of these proceedings. Neither the filing of a formal complaint nor the petition for interim suspension is a determination of judicial misconduct.
The Commission has also filed a request for an appointment of master with the Michigan Supreme Court, and has issued a Scheduling Order in relation to the formal proceedings. It has established the following dates:
· Commencement of formal hearing no later than March 31, 2008
· Filing of master’s report by May 16, 2008
· Filing of objections to master’s report by May 30, 2008
· Filing of response to objections to master’s report by June 6, 2008
· Public Hearing before Commission on June 16, 2008
The Commission has included a provision in the scheduling order that the master may petition it to extend any of the dates that pertain to him/her.
A copy of the formal complaint (without attachments, which are available for review at the Commission office) may be accessed by clicking here.A copy of the petition for interim suspension and supporting brief (without attachments, which are available for review at the Commission office) may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of request for appointment of master may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the scheduling order may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of each document is also available for public inspection at the Commission office during regular business hours.
JUDICIAL TENURE COMMISSION ISSUES FORMAL COMPLAINT AS TO 41ST CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE MARY BROUILLETTE BARGLIND
DETROIT, MI, February 14, 2008 -- The Judicial Tenure Commission initiated formal proceedings against Hon. Mary Brouillette Barglind of the 41st Circuit Court on Tuesday, February 12, 2008. The formal complaint alleges that Judge Barglind engaged in a pattern of misconduct concerning an extended delay in rendering decisions in matters submitted to her, and her failure to cooperate and comply with the State Court Administrative Office (“SCAO”). The matters concerning SCAO relate to her failure to respond to inquiries regarding the status of undecided matters, the failure to report matters as pending as required under the Michigan Court Rules, and her failure to comply with the terms of an Implementation Plan designed to address certain administrative matters in the court. Judge Barglind has 14 days to file an answer to the charges.
The Commission has also filed a request for an appointment of master with the Michigan Supreme Court, and has issued a Scheduling Order in relation to the formal proceedings. It has established the following dates:
Commencement of Formal Hearing by April 28, 2008
Filing of master’s report by June 30, 2008
Filing of objections to master’s report by July 28, 2008
Filing of response to objections to master’s report by August 11, 2008
Public Hearing before Commission on September 8, 2008
The Commission has included a provision in the scheduling order that the master may petition it to extend any of the dates that pertain to him/her.
A copy of the formal complaint may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of request for appointment of master may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the scheduling order may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of each document is also available for public inspection at the Commission office during regular business hours.
MASTER ISSUES FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AS TO FORMAL COMPLAINT NO. 81, HON. BEVERLEY NETTLES-NICKERSON
DETROIT, MI, February 13, 2008 -- Hon. Leopold P. Borrello, the master assigned to preside over the formal hearing in this matter, has issued his report to the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, containing proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. In that report, the master concluded Respondent
· made a fraudulent claim of residency to obtain a divorce
· fabricated evidence
· propagated falsehoods to justify her improper behavior
· pressured her court reporter to lie and say she was getting required breaks (and
then retaliated when the court reporter refused)· made false accusations that Chief Judge William Collette tried to develop an improper
social relationship with her· made false accusations against Chief Judge Collette, David Easterday (the
court administrator), and James Hughes (State Court Administrative Office
Region II administrator) during a press conference she called in her courtroom· improperly listed cases on the No Progress Docket
· engaged in excessive absences, belated commencement of proceedings,
untimely adjournments, and improper docket management· allowed a social relationship to influence the release of a criminal defendant from probation
· engaged in misconduct during the course of a January 16, 2006, incident at a
service station, and· used race and allegations of racism inappropriately
In addition, the master concluded that the examiner failed to establish that Respondent
· engaged in improper ex parte communications
· attempted to retaliate against the probation department and certain employees
· improperly terminated her judicial assistant, and
· filed a spurious complaint with the Michigan Civil Rights Commission
A copy of the complete master’s report may be accessed by clicking here.
The parties will have an opportunity to present their views on the report to the Tenure Commission through briefing and oral argument. The oral argument is scheduled for March 10, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., in the Michigan Court of Appeals courtroom at 3020 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. If the Commission determines that the charges are proved by a preponderance of the evidence, it may recommend that the Supreme Court publicly censure Judge Nettles-Nickerson, suspend her, or remove her from office.
MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT ISSUES PUBLIC CENSURE OF HON. NORENE S. REDMOND
DETROIT, MI, February 7, 2008 -- The Michigan Supreme Court has issued a public censure of Hon. Norene S. Redmond, of the 38th District Court, based on a Decision and Recommendation of the Judicial Tenure Commission, issued with the consent of the respondent judge. A copy of the Supreme Court's Order may be accessed by clicking here.
COMMISSION ISSUES DECISION AND RECOMMENDATION FOR DISCIPLINE TO MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT, REGARDING HON. NORENE S. REDMOND
DETROIT, MI, July 20, 2007 -- The Judicial Tenure Commission has issued a Decision and Recommendation to the Michigan Supreme Court that Hon. Norene S. Redmond, of the 38th District Court, be publicly censured. A copy of the Decision and Recommendation, issued with the consent of the respondent judge, may be accessed by clicking here. A copy of the Settlement Agreement upon with the Decision and Recommendation is based may be accessed by clicking here.
Due to the size of the exhibits referenced in the Decision and Recommendation and Settlement Agreement, they are not included with the documents as posted. Arrangements for viewing and obtaining copies of the documents in their entirety may be made by contacting the Commission.
COMMISSION ADDS PAGE TO WEBSITE WITH ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF RESPONDENTS WHO WERE THE SUBJECT OF FORMAL COMPLAINTS OR PUBLIC DISCIPLINE BY THE MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT
DETROIT, MI, June 28, 2007 -- The Judicial Tenure Commission has added a page to its website containing an alphabetized list of respondents who were (or are) the subject of formal proceedings or public discipline by the Supreme Court, since the Commission's creation in 1968. The list is an efficient way to review, by last name, if a state judge, magistrate, or referee was the subject of formal proceedings, or consented to public discipline by the Supreme Court. That page may be accessed by on the tab at the left or by clicking here.
JUDICIAL TENURE COMMISSION ISSUES FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST 36TH DISTRICT COURT JUDGE JEANETTE O’BANNER-OWENS
DETROIT, MI, March 30, 2007 -- The Judicial Tenure Commission initiated formal proceedings against Hon. Jeanette O’Banner-Owens of the 36th District Court on Thursday, March 29, 2007.
The complaint is based on four counts. Count I asserts that she has frequently demonstrated an unnecessarily harsh demeanor, interrupted witnesses excessively, made inappropriate and sarcastic remarks, and issued unjustified threats of contempt. Count II alleges Judge O’Banner-Owens has voiced erroneous legal opinions and issued erroneous rulings, demonstrating a lack of competence inexcusable in an experienced judge. Count III is based on the judge’s frequent ethnocentric remarks and other comments reflecting bias or creating the appearance of bias in favor of parties from Detroit or who are African-American.
Count IV asserts that her on- and off-the-bench conduct has noticeably deteriorated for approximately the last 18 to 30 months. Regarding that allegation, the complaint identifies conduct including, but not limited to, certain bizarre incidents, inappropriate remarks, acting in a biased manner, creating the appearance of bias, failure to modify her conduct despite admonitions by the Commission, forgetting or ignoring the law, making responses not oriented to the questions raised, and appearing at events and in the courthouse dressed unprofessionally.
A copy of the formal complaint may be accessed by clicking here. Judge O’Banner-Owens has 14 days to file an answer to the charges.
A copy of the filing is also available for public inspection at the Commission office during regular business hours.
COMMISSION POSTS 2006 STATISTICAL DATA
DETROIT, MI, March 26, 2007 -- The Judicial Tenure Commission has posted its 2006 statistical data based on its 2006 Annual Report. Hard copies of the report are available at the Commission office. Updated information posted on the website includes summaries of public and non-public proceedings (click here for Recent Commission Action), statistics, and budget information (click here for stats and budget).
HON. NANCI J. GRANT JOINS JUDICIAL TENURE COMMISSION
DETROIT, MI, January 3, 2007 – Hon. Nanci J. Grant has joined the Judicial Tenure Commission, representing her fellow Circuit Court judges. She is currently serving as a judge of the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County, Michigan. Judge Grant graduated from The University of Michigan with honors, and has a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School, where she was the head of an honors program. She has served as President of the Michigan Judges Association and currently is Vice-Chairperson of the Judicial Conference of the State Bar of Michigan. Judge Grant was elected to the 6th Circuit Court in 1996.
COMMISSION POSTS INTERNAL OPERATING PROCEDURES
DETROIT, MI, July 12, 2006 – The Internal Operating Procedures (“IOP’s”) for the Judicial Tenure Commission, as proposed by the Commission and amended and adopted by the Michigan Supreme Court, are now available on the Commission web site. The IOP’s were drafted in accordance with MCR 9.203(A), and serve to address the administration of the Commission. They may be accessed by clicking the IOP's button at the left sidebar.