Resolved Formal Proceedings

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  Some cases were resolved with an unpublished order (in earlier formal complaints), dismissal by the Commission, or the resignation, defeat at election, or death of the respondent judge, so there is no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 recent formal complaints, answers, decision and recommendations, and Michigan Supreme Court opinions.  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 Division

Formal Complaint No. 2
 Hon. Bert M. Heideman, 99th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 3
 Hon. Rudolph L. Maras, Hamtramck Municipal Court

Formal Complaint No. 4
 Hon. Bert M. Heideman, 99th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 5
 Hon. James H. Edgar, 55th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 6
 Hon. James Lee Blodgett, Magistrate, 55th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 7
 Hon. Calvin C. Rock, East Detroit Municipal Court

Formal Complaint No. 8
 Hon. Harvey W. Moes, Hillsdale County Probate Court

Formal Complaint No. 9
 Hon. Norman F. Kapcia, Lake County Probate Court

Formal Complaint No. 10
 Hon. Willard J. Mikesell, 5th Circuit Court

Formal Complaint No. 11
 Hon. Frank S. Szymanski, Wayne County Probate Court

Formal Complaint No. 12
 Hon. Frank H. Ryman, 77th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 13
 Hon. Arthur R. Reibel, 90th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 14
 Hon. Roy N. Gruenburg, 37th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 15
 Hon. Frank S. Szymanski, Wayne County Probate Court

Formal Complaint No. 16
 Hon. Earl Warren Bennett, 3rd District Court

Formal Complaint No. 17
 Hon. Norman F. Kapcia, Lake County Probate Court

Formal Complaint No. 18
 Hon. James Del Rio, Recorder’s Court

Formal Complaint No. 19
 Hon. James D. O’Connell, Associate Judge, Highland Park Municipal Court

Formal Complaint No. 20
 Hon. Clarence Laster, Jr., Recorder’s Court

Formal Complaint No. 21
 Hon. Charles V. Probert, Wyoming Municipal Court

Formal Complaint No. 22
 Hon. Fredric A. Grimm, Sr., 14th Circuit Court

Formal Complaint No. 23
 Hon. William C. Hague, Recorder’s Court, Traffic and Ordinance Division

Formal Complaint No. 24
 Hon. Edward W. Lawrence, 43rd District Court

Formal Complaint No. 25
 Hon. Ray C. Hotchkiss, 30th Circuit Court

Formal Complaint No. 26
 Hon. Don Binkowski, 37th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 27
 Hon. Edward W. Lawrence, 43rd District Court

Formal Complaint No. 28
 Hon. Philip S. Tschirhart, 89th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 29
 Hon. Evan H. Callanan, Sr., 18th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 30
 Hon. Virginia A. Sobotka, 19th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 31
 Hon. Lee Vera Loyd, 68th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 32
 Hon. Daniel L. Tschirhart, 54B District Court

Formal Complaint No. 33
 Hon. Thomas C. Bayles, 30th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 34
 Hon. J. Robert Gragg, Wayne County Probate Court

Formal Complaint No. 35
 Hon. Rufus Griffin, Jr., 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 36
 Hon. Charles Hammons, Magistrate, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 37
 Hon. John J. O’Brien, Oakland County Probate Court

Formal Complaint No. 38
 Hon. Alice L. Gilbert, 6th Circuit Court

Formal Complaint No. 39
 Hon. Arvin L. Davis, 9-1st District Court

Formal Complaint No. 40
 Hon. Thomas E. Brennan, Jr., 55th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 41
 Hon. Leon Jenkins, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 42
 Hon. Thomas J. Shannon, Magistrate, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 43
 Hon. James McCauley Seitz, Monroe County Probate Court

Formal Complaint No. 44
 Hon. Francis X. O’Brien, 6th Circuit Court

Formal Complaint No. 45
 Hon. Louis F. Simmons, 3rd Circuit Court

Formal Complaint No. 46
 Hon. Rufus Griffin, Jr., 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 47
 Hon. Warfield Moore, Jr., Recorder’s Court

Formal Complaint No. 48
 Hon. G. Michael Hocking, 56th Circuit Court

Formal Complaint No. 49
 Hon. David Martin Bradfield, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 50
 Hon. Wendy Cooley, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 51
 Hon. Joel S. Gehrke, 64-B Court

Formal Complaint No. 52
 Hon. Andrea J. Ferrara, 3rd Circuit Court

Formal Complaint No. 53
 Hon. Wendy M. Baxter, 3rd Circuit Court, Criminal Division

Formal Complaint No. 54
 Hon. Christopher C. Brown, 50th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 55
 Hon. William Waterman, 50th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 56
 Hon. John M. Chmura, 37th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 57
 Hon. Kenneth A. Radzibon, Presque Isle County Probate Court

Formal Complaint No. 58
 Hon. Warfield Moore, Jr., 3rd Circuit Court, Criminal Division

Formal Complaint No. 59
 Hon. Daniel R. Deja, 5th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 60
 Hon. Cynthia Gray Hathaway, 3rd Circuit Court, Criminal Division

Formal Complaint No. 61
 Hon. William J. Runco, 19th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 62
 Hon. James A. Scandirito, 41-B District Court

Formal Complaint No. 63
 Hon. Harrell D. Milhouse, Magistrate, 68th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 64
 Hon. Wendy Cooley, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 65
 Hon. Susan R. Chrzanowski, 37th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 66
 Hon. David Martin Bradfield, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 67
 Hon. Jack R. Jelsema, 62A District Court

Formal Complaint No. 68
 Hon. Gerard Trudel, 24th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 69
 Hon. Warfield Moore, Jr.,  3rd Circuit Court, Civil Division

Formal Complaint No. 70
 Mag. Harrell D. Milhouse, 68th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 71
 Hon. Jack R. Jelsema, 62A District Court

Formal Complaint No. 72
 Hon. M. T. Thompson, Jr., 70th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 73
 Hon. James P. Noecker, 45th Circuit Court

Formal Complaint No. 74
 Hon. Steven Ford, 92nd District Court

Formal Complaint No. 75
 Hon. Frank Del Vero, 53rd District Court

Formal Complaint No. 76
 Hon. Marion Moore, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 77
 Hon. Michael J. Haley, 86th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 78
 Hon. Dana Fortinberry, 52nd District Court

Formal Complaint No. 79
 Hon. David Martin Bradfield, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 80
 Hon. Jeannette O’Banner-Owens, 36th District Court

Formal Complaint No. 81
 Hon. Beverley Nettles-Nickerson, 30th Circuit Court

A copy of Formal Complaint No. 81 may be accessed by clicking here.

A copy of Respondent's answer 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. 82
 Hon. William C. Hultgren, 19th District Court

A copy of Formal Complaint No. 82 may be accessed by clicking here.

A copy of the Respondent's answer and affirmative defenses 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 Opinion may be accessed by clicking here.

Formal Complaint No. 83
 Hon. Mary Brouillette Barglind, 41st Circuit Court

A copy of Formal Complaint No. 83 may be accessed by clicking here.

A copy of Respondent's answer may be accessed by clicking here.

A copy of the Commission's Decision and Recommendation, issued based on the consent of the respondent judge, may be accessed by clicking here.

A copy of the Supreme Court's decision may be accessed by clicking here.

To access a list of the pending formal proceedings, click here.