The National Center for State Courts completed their report on racial equity within the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, a group tasked with reviewing judicial impropriety.
I finally had a chance to review the report today.
Race was significantly associated with having a filed grievance proceed to full investigation, with grievances filed against Black judicial officers more likely to proceed to full investigation.
This single sentence lays bare what many have suspected for years: Michigan’s oversight system isn’t blind. The very body tasked with holding judges accountable is itself perpetuating inequity, subjecting Black judicial officers to harsher scrutiny than their peers.
Why This Matters
Judges wield extraordinary power over people’s lives. The JTC is supposed to function as a safeguard, ensuring accountability when misconduct occurs. But if racial bias drives which cases are fully investigated, then the oversight process risks reinforcing the same structural inequities already present in the courts.
For Black judges, this doesn’t just mean increased stress or reputational harm. It undermines judicial independence and signals to communities of color that even at the highest levels of the justice system, fairness isn’t guaranteed.
The Bigger Picture
Michigan isn’t alone in this struggle. Across the country, judicial oversight commissions have faced criticism for inconsistency, lack of transparency, and political influence. The NCSC’s findings put numbers to what has often been whispered: race is a determining factor in who gets investigated and how far complaints go.
This raises critical questions:
- Are judicial officers of color being unfairly targeted for discipline?
- How do these patterns impact trust in the judiciary?
- What reforms will Michigan and other states commit to, to ensure oversight is truly equitable?
What Comes Next
The NCSC report doesn’t just point out the problem; it provides an opportunity. The Michigan JTC can use these findings to confront bias in its investigative processes, adopt stronger equity standards, and rebuild trust in the judiciary.
But as history shows, reports don’t change systems; people do. It will take public pressure, advocacy, and watchdog journalism to ensure this doesn’t become another study that gets shelved.
The bottom line: oversight that is racially biased isn’t oversight at all—it’s another layer of injustice. If Michigan is serious about fairness in its courts, reforming the JTC must be a priority.
Read the report here.
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