“Firm Yet Fair” Judge Asks Defendant Out: “Being On Probation Is A Complication”

A Michigan District Court judge was censured and suspended without pay for 30 days late last year by order of the Michigan Supreme Court.

After he had handled a domestic violence matter, the following took place with the defendant

In December of 2014, after seeing [the defendant] in the hallway of the courthouse, Respondent received a Christmas card from her, wishing him a [M]erry Christmas and thanking him for being “an extremely firm yet fair judge.”

Respondent wrote back to [the defendant], on court stationery, indicating that he was also pleased to have run into her in the hall at the courthouse. In that same handwritten note, he said,

“You continue to sound well. No need to thank me. Well, maybe you can.

“I am not sure of your marital status. But if you are not, would you be interested in seeing me? Being on probation is a complication. I am interested if you are.”

They exchanged emails through January 2015.

He interceded in a separate matter on behalf of a friend’s daughter.

Michigan Live had details here, (Mike Frisch)