The following is a list of resolved formal complaints that have been initiated by the Commission since its inception. Some cases were resolved with an unpublished order (in earlier formal complaints), dismissal by the Commission, or the resignation, defeat at election, or death of the respondent judge, so there is no corresponding Michigan Supreme Court decision.
Links are provided to available formal complaints, answers, Commission decision and recommendations, and Michigan Supreme Court opinions in more recent formal proceedings. Links to final reported versions of Supreme Court opinions cannot be provided, but those listed are to the Supreme Court's original order and/or opinion (where available).
Arrangements for viewing and obtaining copies of public materials concerning any formal complaint can be made by contacting the Commission.
Formal Complaint No. 1
Hon. Ernest J. Somers, 67th District Court, 4th DivisionFormal Complaint No. 2
Hon. Bert M. Heideman, 99th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 3
Hon. Rudolph L. Maras, Hamtramck Municipal CourtFormal Complaint No. 4
Hon. Bert M. Heideman, 99th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 5
Hon. James H. Edgar, 55th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 6
Hon. James Lee Blodgett, Magistrate, 55th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 7
Hon. Calvin C. Rock, East Detroit Municipal CourtFormal Complaint No. 8
Hon. Harvey W. Moes, Hillsdale County Probate CourtFormal Complaint No. 9
Hon. Norman F. Kapcia, Lake County Probate CourtFormal Complaint No. 10
Hon. Willard J. Mikesell, 5th Circuit CourtFormal Complaint No. 11
Hon. Frank S. Szymanski, Wayne County Probate CourtFormal Complaint No. 12
Hon. Frank H. Ryman, 77th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 13
Hon. Arthur R. Reibel, 90th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 14
Hon. Roy N. Gruenburg, 37th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 15
Hon. Frank S. Szymanski, Wayne County Probate CourtFormal Complaint No. 16
Hon. Earl Warren Bennett, 3rd District CourtFormal Complaint No. 17
Hon. Norman F. Kapcia, Lake County Probate CourtFormal Complaint No. 18
Hon. James Del Rio, Recorder’s CourtFormal Complaint No. 19
Hon. James D. O’Connell, Associate Judge, Highland Park Municipal CourtFormal Complaint No. 20
Hon. Clarence Laster, Jr., Recorder’s CourtFormal Complaint No. 21
Hon. Charles V. Probert, Wyoming Municipal CourtFormal Complaint No. 22
Hon. Fredric A. Grimm, Sr., 14th Circuit CourtFormal Complaint No. 23
Hon. William C. Hague, Recorder’s Court, Traffic and Ordinance DivisionFormal Complaint No. 24
Hon. Edward W. Lawrence, 43rd District CourtFormal Complaint No. 25
Hon. Ray C. Hotchkiss, 30th Circuit CourtFormal Complaint No. 26
Hon. Don Binkowski, 37th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 27
Hon. Edward W. Lawrence, 43rd District CourtFormal Complaint No. 28
Hon. Philip S. Tschirhart, 89th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 29
Hon. Evan H. Callanan, Sr., 18th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 30
Hon. Virginia A. Sobotka, 19th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 31
Hon. Lee Vera Loyd, 68th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 32
Hon. Daniel L. Tschirhart, 54B District CourtFormal Complaint No. 33
Hon. Thomas C. Bayles, 30th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 34
Hon. J. Robert Gragg, Wayne County Probate CourtFormal Complaint No. 35
Hon. Rufus Griffin, Jr., 36th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 36
Hon. Charles Hammons, Magistrate, 36th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 37
Hon. John J. O’Brien, Oakland County Probate CourtFormal Complaint No. 38
Hon. Alice L. Gilbert, 6th Circuit CourtFormal Complaint No. 39
Hon. Arvin L. Davis, 9-1st District CourtFormal Complaint No. 40
Hon. Thomas E. Brennan, Jr., 55th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 41
Hon. Leon Jenkins, 36th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 42
Hon. Thomas J. Shannon, Magistrate, 36th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 43
Hon. James McCauley Seitz, Monroe County Probate CourtFormal Complaint No. 44
Hon. Francis X. O’Brien, 6th Circuit CourtFormal Complaint No. 45
Hon. Louis F. Simmons, 3rd Circuit CourtFormal Complaint No. 46
Hon. Rufus Griffin, Jr., 36th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 47
Hon. Warfield Moore, Jr., Recorder’s CourtFormal Complaint No. 48
Hon. G. Michael Hocking, 56th Circuit CourtFormal Complaint No. 49
Hon. David Martin Bradfield, 36th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 50
Hon. Wendy Cooley, 36th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 51
Hon. Joel S. Gehrke, 64-B CourtFormal Complaint No. 52
Hon. Andrea J. Ferrara, 3rd Circuit CourtFormal Complaint No. 53
Hon. Wendy M. Baxter, 3rd Circuit Court, Criminal DivisionFormal Complaint No. 54
Hon. Christopher C. Brown, 50th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 55
Hon. William Waterman, 50th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 56
Hon. John M. Chmura, 37th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 57
Hon. Kenneth A. Radzibon, Presque Isle County Probate CourtFormal Complaint No. 58
Hon. Warfield Moore, Jr., 3rd Circuit Court, Criminal DivisionFormal Complaint No. 59
Hon. Daniel R. Deja, 5th District CourtFormal Complaint No. 60
Hon. Cynthia Gray Hathaway, 3rd Circuit Court, Criminal Division
Formal Complaint No. 61
Hon. William J. Runco, 19th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No, 61 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's opinion can be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 62
Hon. James A. Scandirito, 41-B District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 62 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision can be accessed by clicking here.
The Commission dismissed the formal complaint on January 10, 2000, prior to conducting a hearing on sanctions, due to the resignation of Judge Scandirito.
Formal Complaint No. 63
Hon. Harrell D. Milhouse, Magistrate, 68th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 63 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation can be accessed by clicking here.
A link to the Supreme Court's opinion is not available. The citation is: In re Milhouse, 461 Mich 1280 (2000).
Formal Complaint No. 64
Hon. Wendy Cooley, 36th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 64 can be accessed by clicking here.
The Supreme Court dismissed the formal complaint on May 3, 2000, as moot following the disability retirement of Judge Cooley.
Formal Complaint No. 65
Hon. Susan R. Chrzanowski, 37th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 65 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's opinion can be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 66
Hon. David Martin Bradfield, 36th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 66 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's opinion can be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 67
Hon. Jack R. Jelsema, 62A District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 67 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation can be accessed by clicking here.
A link to the Supreme Court's opinion is not available. The citation is: In re Jelsema, 463 Mich 1229 (2001).
Formal Complaint No. 68
Hon. Gerard Trudel, 24th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 68 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the respondent's Answer can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's opinion can be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 69
Hon. Warfield Moore, Jr., 3rd Circuit Court, Civil DivisionA copy of Formal Complaint No. 69 can be accessed by clicking here.
The Commission dismissed the formal complaint on November 18, 2002, pursuant to a resolution of the matter reached with Judge Moore.
Formal Complaint No. 70
Mag. Harrell D. Milhouse, 68th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 70 can be accessed by clicking here.
The Commission filed a formal complaint against Magistrate Milhouse on September 12, 2002, and was subsequently informed that he had retired from the position of magistrate on or about August 15, 2002, without advising the Commission. The Commission dismissed the formal complaint on November 18, 2002, and referred the matter to the Attorney Grievance Commission.
Formal Complaint No. 71
Hon. Jack R. Jelsema, 62A District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 71 can be accessed by clicking here.
The Commission dismissed the formal complaint on February 10, 2003, following the resignation of Judge Jelsema.
Formal Complaint No. 72
Hon. M. T. Thompson, Jr., 70th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 72 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the respondent's answer to Formal Complaint No. 72, without attachments, may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the master's findings of fact and conclusions of law may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's majority Decision and Recommendation may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's concurring/dissenting recommendation may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's decision may be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 73
Hon. James P. Noecker, 45th Circuit CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 73 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the respondent's answer to Formal Complaint No. 73 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's order granting the petition for interim suspension may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's concurring recommendation may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's concurring/dissenting recommendation may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Michigan Supreme Court's opinion removing Respondent from office may be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 74
Hon. Steven Ford, 92nd District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 74 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the respondent's answer to Formal Complaint No. 74 can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation, with attachments, can be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's decision may be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 75
Hon. Frank Del Vero, 53rd District Court
A copy of Formal Complaint No. 75 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the respondent's answer to Formal Complaint No. 75 may be accessed by clicking here.
Although the Commission condemned the type of activity alleged in the formal complaint, it dismissed the proceeding as the judicial disciplinary process would not have concluded before the retirement of the respondent judge, effective July 31, 2004.
Formal Complaint No. 76
Hon. Marion Moore, 36th District Court
A copy of Formal Complaint No. 76 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's decision may be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 77
Hon. Michael J. Haley, 86th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 77 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of Respondent's answer to Formal Complaint No. 77 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's decision and recommendation may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Michigan Supreme Court's decision may be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 78
Hon. Dana Fortinberry, 52nd District Court
A copy of Formal Complaint No. 78 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of Respondent's answer to Formal Complaint No. 78 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's decision and recommendation may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Michigan Supreme Court's decision may be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 79
Hon. David Martin Bradfield, 36th District CourtA copy of Formal Complaint No. 79 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of Respondent's answer to Formal Complaint No. 79 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's decision and recommendation may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's order suspending Respondent without pay until further order of the Court, and remanding the matter to the Commission for consideration of Respondent's fitness to serve as a judge (including an independent medical examination by a psychiatrist chosen by the Commission and a timetable for further consideration by the Commission), may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Commission's Order of Dismissal issued after Respondent's resignation of judicial office may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the Supreme Court's order dismissing this case may be accessed by clicking here.
Formal Complaint No. 80
Hon. Jeanette O'Banner-Owens, 36th District Court
A copy of Formal Complaint No. 80 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of Respondent's answer and affirmative defenses to Formal Complaint No. 80 may be accessed by clicking here (due to the size of the attachments, they are included separately, as listed below).
A copy of Attachments 1 through 11 of Respondent's answer to Formal Complaint No. 80 may be accessed by clicking here.
A copy of the First Amended Complaint may be accessed by clicking here.
The Commission dismissed this matter after the untimely death of Judge O'Banner-Owens.
To access a list of the pending formal proceedings, click here.