If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In August 2012, she was removed from office for the remainder of her term by the Michigan Supreme Court. The law is a gray area at best. width: 150px; .widget-row.value-only.black { Whatever this website says about the law is presented in the context of how we or others perceive the applicability of the law to a set of circumstances if one of us (or some other author) was in the circumstances under the conditions discussed. Michigan is doing a fairly aggressive job of rooting out misconduct.". width: 57%; Inkster Judge Sylvia James is guilty of misusing court funds says report issued today, Report your Judge, Lawyer or Government Office, Report your Judge, Attorney & Public Official Today. Sheila Ann Gibson, Wayne County Circuit Court judge, issued a public censure and 30-day suspension without pay after a Detroit television crew followed her and filmed her arriving late to the courthouse and leaving early on several days. Below are but a few examples of Arrogant Sylvias illegal expenditure of court funds for personal use: Catering, flowers and professional photography at courts annual Law Day at Inkster High School, Donations to Inkster High School alumni gatherings including her sisters 40, $3,218 to attend a Natl Assoc of Drug Court Professionals in Boston, Hosed the court for a personal flight to New York City, Bilked court for airfare even though she used her own frequent flyer miles for the cost, Money to help pay for an Inkster High School sports championship celebration, Gave $4,500 to the Inkster Auxiliary Police for picnics and unspecified supplies, The Michigan Supreme Court suspended Sylvia in April 2011 after the Judicial Commission filed its charges, which included a claim that she tapped the court fund for over $100,000 in travel, landscaping, untaxed bonus pay and new uniforms for Inkster High School junior varsity cheerleaders. This website is to expose government corruption, law enforcement corruption, political corruption, and judicial corruption. Anyone mentioned by name in any article is welcome to file a response. .top_disclaimer { I hope you regard your marathon on this project as worth all the effort, and the frustration too, said Judge D. Brooks Smith, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Michigan 22nd District Court. Sabrina Johnson is a judge of the Michigan 22nd District Court. "But for the discipline, some of this behavior might have continued," said Geyh. Despite our concerns about lawyers in general, We suggest that anyone with legal questions consult an attorney for an answer, particularly after reading anything on this website. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? Bay Mills Community College let the school know Sept. 25 that it would be revoking DCSs' charter contract. Sylvia A. James was a judge for the 22nd District Court in Michigan. Other findings by the court indicate James. James has been on the bench since 1988 and is running for re-election. Candidates were given one of five ratings: Outstanding, Well Qualified, Qualified, Not Qualified or No Rating. Dennis Wiley, a district court judge in Berrien County in southwest Michigan, was publicly censured in 2012 after he found a woman in contempt and threw her in jail for 10 days because she. A psychiatrist who later examined the letter for court officials said it showed classic symptoms of "psychosis" marked by "insane delusions" and warned that Sanders, who has been known to carry a handgun, could be dangerous. font-size: 1.2em; Bay Mills temporarily suspended the school board and appointed a conservator who fired McPhail. Stimulus Check Latest: Will Your Next Relief Payment Be $1,400? We do not practice law. DETROIT Former Detroit City Councilwoman Sharon McPhailis expected in court Tuesday morning after being fired as the chief administrative officer of a Detroit charter school, a job she refuses to leave. Utilizzando il nostro sito web l'utente dichiara di accettare e acconsentire allutilizzo dei cookies. State legislature | what is judge sylvia james doing now Home; FAQ; Foto; Contact She was defeated by Sabrina Johnson in the general election on November 6, receiving 33.67 percent of the vote.[3][4][5]. } The Judicial Tenure Commission (JTC) has recommended that this Court remove 22d District Court Judge Sylvia A. James from office for judicial misconduct. McPhail said there is not a restraining order and that she is not barred from the property. Whatever this website says about the law is presented in the context of how we or others perceive the applicability of the law to a set of circumstances if one of us (or some other author) was in the circumstances under the conditions discussed. page entitled, "Re-Elect Judge Sylvia A. James 22nd District court," although the most recent post is from July 2. float: right; Died on Sunday, November 14, 2021, at age 87. what is judge sylvia james doing now. Tireless advocate for victims of domestic violence. Sylvia A. James was a judge for the 22nd District Court in Michigan. James, Nancy Johnson. Candidates were given one of five ratings: Outstanding, Well Qualified, Qualified, Not Qualified or No Rating. | Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. } Some days she worked as little as four hours. Plaintiff Sylvia James was a judge of the 22nd District Court for 23 years before she was placed on administrative leave on April 13, 2011, by a unanimous vote of the Michigan Supreme Court in response to grievances filed by both the State Court Administrators Office ("SCAO") and by the City of Inkster attorney, David Jones, alleging that Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. font-weight: bold; The administrative office of the Michigan Supreme Court place James on administrative leave while it expanded its earlier audit of the court. In 2010, the Inkster City Council, the funding unit for the 22nd District Court, hired attorney David Jones to investigate James, and in February 2011 he 1963, art. 88, Michigan Department of State, Unofficial 2012 General Election Results: 30th Circuit Court, Wayne County, 2012 Judicial Primary Results, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Sylvia_A._James&oldid=7217304, Former Michigan district court judges, 22 District, Defeated Michigan judicial candidates, 2012, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. Report your Judge, Attorney & Public Official Today. It also said she committed misconduct by failing to recuse herself immediatelyfrom her own divorce case and used the delay to dispose of evidence. She was the sole judge of Inkster's 22nd District Court. (TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries.

float:right; All Rights Reserved. Please, Michigan judicial elections, 2012 - District Courts, Judicial Tenure Commission, Former Complaint No. "The publics confidence in the judiciary is eroded when a judge continues to enjoy the perquisites of her office after having admitted toengaging in felonious conduct,"wrote Glenn Page, deputy executive directorfor the commission. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. Four judges have been removed from the bench and a fifth was forced to retire in the last three years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QeD1uUgmKw. The Weekend Today co-host, 68, was happy to oblige the woman's wishes . Last fall, Brennan testified she had the cell phone restored to factory settings, contrary to her previous testimony in her 2016 divorce case. On occasion, voters will hold judges accountable. This website does not provide legal advice.  "Teflon judges: They wield great power, but are tough to remove. Owned and operated by the Hernandez family UglyJudge.com UGLYJUDGE Copyright 2006-2023 All Rights Reserved Notice: "We, are not attorneys. Following its hearing on the allegations against Judge James, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission released its official complaint against James. Anyone mentioned by name in any article is welcome to file a response. ". The state's Commission on Judicial Performance declared that Orange County Judge Scott Steiner and Kern County Judge Cory Woodward showed "utter disrespect for the dignity and decorum of the court.". The administrative office of the Michigan Supreme Court place James on administrative leave while it expanded its earlier audit of the court. The comments of visitors or guest authors to the website are their opinions and do not therefore reflect our opinions. }. Lied under oath during an investigation into the various allegations. Box 536 New Roads LA 70760 8-225-638-5532. Though Jones made the required payments by the spring of 2007, no car was produced. Jackson County's 12th District Court Judge James Justin "failed to follow the law, apparently believing that it simply did not apply to him," the Michigan Supreme Court found. Voters can be dispassionate if not outright uninformed when it comes to electing judges in Michigan. Plaintiff-Appellant Sylvia James, an African-American woman, served as the sole judge of the 22nd District Court in Inkster, Michigan, for more than 23 years. Also, the attorney said that audits conducted by the Michigan Supreme Court never found any wrongdoing with how Judge James was using the courts funds. In a 2-1 decision Wednesday, an appeals court says James can pursue those claims in federal court. Bar association ratings Susana Martinez on Nov. 9 and has since been closing down her private practice and preparing for her first day on the . On May 14, 2012, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission held a public hearing on accusations facing James. Recently the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission filed misconduct charges against Judge James. font-size: .9em; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Porter is simply doing what she was elected to do. 	display: inline-block; It is because of my respect for this institution that I have given most of my career to the federal Judiciary. For more on Brennan's removal, read MLive's investigation, "Teflon judges: They wield great power, but are tough to remove. FIND YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE, Report your Judge, Attorney & Public Official Today, Report your Judge, Lawyer or Government Office, Copyright Court Victims Network 2020-2023, COURT VICTIMS NETWORK Bring Justice Back to the World A Alexander Smirnovs group Worldwide Court Victims because they fear the masses, Notice: "We, are not attorneys. 

"It's been pretty steady the last several years, but it does seem like there's been more," he said. background-color: green; Some states have tried to provide more citizen access and greater policing. .infobox p { US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, of Manhattan federal court, imposed the sentence on Ash, 64, a Brooklyn who was born in . From Sylvia James' Facebook reelection page. ", QUICK EASY SHARE OPTIONS PRESS + FOR MORE, Michigan judge suspended by Supreme Court, December 29, 2011. font-weight: bold; But once a judge breaks a law or violates one of the strict judicial canons that dictate behavior, they can face sanctions. Dennis Wiley, a district court judge in Berrien County in southwest Michigan, was publicly censured in 2012 after he found a woman in contempt and threw her in jail for 10 days because she. Bruce Morrow, Wayne County Circuit Court judge, 60 days suspension in 2014 for mismanaging cases, including his refusal to lock up a convicted rapist pending sentencing. Follow her on Twitter @KayDaugherty92. color: white; The Michigan's Judicial Tenure Commissio accused her of misspending thousands of dollars earmarked for an alternative sentencing program for travel or to promote herself. Once a judge wins election, it can become a job for life. Professor Abramson calls it the "black robe disease.". Third Stimulus Check: When Could You Get Another Economic Relief Payment? Cynthia Gray, the director of the center and considered one of nation's experts on judicial ethics, has been watching the Michigan judiciary with interest. Michigan is among 39 states that elect their judges. Search for: Search. } A special prosecutor was appointed but brought no charges. Anything less would only further prove that Judicial Misfits are held to a lower standard of conduct than everyone else in the Wolverine State. (AP) A New York state judge was convicted Monday of obstructing a federal probe into one of the nation's oldest and largest credit unions for over a half million . .widget-row.Green { The Supreme Court ordered James to repay more than $81,000 for the total amount of the misappropriated funds and the cost of the Judicial Tenure Committee prosecution. The Michigan Supreme Court removed James from office in 2012 after she was accused of turning a community service fund into her own private foundation, spending money to travel and to promote herself. It's been a months-long heavy weight fight between Judge James and Inkster's mayor, council, and treasurer. Michigan 22nd District Court. Judge Sylvia James. U.S. Congress | Related: Judicial Tenure Commission report: Facts show 'gross misconduct' by Theresa Brennan. Questions have also been raised over people McPhail has hired. Sylvia James says her constitutional rights were violated when documents were removed from a personal safe at Inkster District Court. according to the Detroit Free Press, was found guilty of misconduct by the Judicial Tenure Commission in April and placed on paid leave, a status she maintained until. Rachel married the love of her life, Michael A. Bomasuto on October 16,1948 in Silver . [8], James' attorney implied that the allegations were politically motivated, since they were only made after the judge opposed the policies of the mayor. Also read: 30 Horrible Things Men Wear That Women HATE Could this man be truly Depp's long-lost son? 0:00. James is black. The problems have even reached up to the state's highest court. Stream live on Local 4+. 19 Was Sued For Not Building A Cadillac. clear: both; color: white; Justice Samuel Alito was supposed to speak to law students at George Mason University in Arlington, Va., but when they showed up, he wasn't there. Retired Judge Ann Mattson was master of the hearing, and was responsible for investigating the allegations. "I think people are paying more attention.". There are no studies showing the impact, but the experts say it likely keeps judges behaving. Copyright 2018 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. All rights reserved (About Us). William Coleman, former Detroit public schools head, is in charge. All thats left now is for the Michigan Supreme Court to toss this certified loser off the bench. / CBS Detroit. Therefore, since her paid suspension in April 2011 through Jan 2012, shes received $116,600 in undeserved and unearned wages from the taxpayers of Michigan. Cancer nurses go on strike for first time: Thousands of health workers from half of NHS trusts in England stage 28-hour strike over pay today in blow to patients in cancer units, ICU wards and A&E . In a Dec. 20 report, aretired judge who reviewedevidence in a lengthy Judicial Tenure Commission hearing last fall against Brennan said Brennan committed"gross misconduct"byconcealing her relationship with Furlong, a lead investigator in the Kowalski case. Public policy. technical assistance: vertical-align: top; The show depicts Robert Rinder as an arbitrator overseeing civil cases.Rinder began his career in criminal law in 2003. color: white; background-color: grey; He was also a judge on the first series of the BBC talent show Strictly Dance Fever. The Michigan Supreme Court just issued a ruling that says Chief Judge Sylvia James of Inkster's 22 nd District Court will be removed from the bench for the r. The Michigan Board of Education says McPhail does not have her administrator certification and the school is not in compliance with the law. Leslie Abramson, a professor at the Louis Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville, said the nature of the transgressions should prompt the state to look hard at how judges are elected and retained. Judicial elections tend to be about name recognition and the special incumbent designation that sitting judges get on the ballot. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. background-color: white; 0:00 1:33 Inkster A former Detroit-area judge has won an appeal in a lawsuit tied to an investigation that forced her out of office. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . Sylvia A. James was a judge for the 22nd District Court in Michigan. The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission filed a request late Tuesday evening asking. On July 31, 2012, the Michigan Supreme Court removed James from office for the remainder of her term which ended December 31. color: white; The 34-year-old Today Extra host was spotted enjoying a Alternative Title: Sylvia Alice Earle. Characteristically unassuming, Rambo said she was in total shock when she was informed last year of an effort to put her name on the new courthouse. Inkster's 22nd District Court Judge Sylvia James misused funds meant for crime victims, the Michigan Supreme Court found. This website expresses our OPINIONS. Rehired an unqualified magistrate, who erroneously signed over 15,000 bench warrants that had to later be reissued by another judge. P.O. HATHAWAY, J. Commission complaint This website expresses our OPINIONS. The irrepressible Judge Judith Sheindlin continues to hold court as presiding judge on Judge Judy, the highest-rated daily, half-hour, nationally syndicated reality courtroom series. The number of judges disciplined about 35 per year has not gone up, but the level of chicanery has soared. By evening's end, Lyndy McNeil, a former student and lead cheerleader is found dead behind a sand dune. } YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Leroy K New: Leroy was the prosecutor in the Sylvia Likens trial. Her report subsequently found that James used part of the court budget for charitable donations around the city, which would amount to a misappropriation of funds. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. background-color: #f9f9f9; The documentary focuses on James Safechuck and Wade Robson, who filed lawsuits claiming they were sexually abused as boys at the Neverland Ranch. In addition, records show 231 phone calls representing 1,147 minutes between Brennan and Furlong between November 2011 through December 2012. Dennis Wiley, a district court judge in Berrien County in southwest Michigan, was publicly censured in 2012 after he found a woman in contempt and threw her in jail for 10 days because she muttered a profanity in the clerk's office while trying to take care of traffic tickets. 2013) case opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Amy is also a graduate of Harvard, where she majored in comparative religion. background-color: #f9f9f9; Fischer said the number of complaints about misbehaving judges have remained steady, though recent cases have garnered much more attention, likely because they have involved titillating behavior like sex, theft and lying that ended up in headlines. "Perhaps in a year or so, it will be back to the typical thing, like drunk driving," Gray said. Bay Mills also said they have a temporary restraining order that bars McPhail from the school. Correction: An earlier version of this story should have said Sylvia James is a former Wayne County judge.