On August 27, 2024, Oakland County Michigan Probate Court Judge Kathleen Ryan was removed from her docket following recordings in which she allegedly used racist and anti-gay language. The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission (JTC) does not appear to have been involved until the recordings were sent to Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Clement.
Case Record — Judge Kathleen Ryan, Oakland County Probate Court
Date of removal: August 27, 2024
Court: Oakland County Probate Court, Michigan
Basis: Recordings allegedly capturing racist and anti-gay language
Who reported: A person who worked closely with Judge Ryan — not the JTC
Initial recipient: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Clement
Disciplinary status: As of December 2024, it remains to be seen whether Judge Ryan will face formal sanctions
Source: MLive reporting
Court: Oakland County Probate Court, Michigan
Basis: Recordings allegedly capturing racist and anti-gay language
Who reported: A person who worked closely with Judge Ryan — not the JTC
Initial recipient: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Clement
Disciplinary status: As of December 2024, it remains to be seen whether Judge Ryan will face formal sanctions
Source: MLive reporting
What the JTC’s Absence Here Reveals
This is not the first person or organization to seek assistance outside of the JTC. Outside intervention was sought in investigating claims of racist investigatory practices by judges, finding that JTC was harsher in punishing Black judges.
What It Tells Us
The person who captured the recordings worked closely with Judge Ryan. That the recordings went to the Michigan Supreme Court rather than the JTC suggests a lack of confidence in the JTC and its ability to handle judicial misconduct. This comes as a growing number of people express discontent with the JTC’s investigation outcomes and are seeking other methods for judicial transparency and accountability.
The JTC’s Structural Problems
Known JTC Accountability Gaps
Results of investigations can be kept private if a judge removes themselves from the bench or retires, avoiding sanctions entirely
The JTC’s policies and procedures have not had a major revamp since their creation in the 1960s
Still requires wet ink signatures and notaries for submissions — slow, antiquated, and not at all modernized
Research found the JTC was harsher in punishing Black judges — a structural bias concern Rita has raised previously
This is an issue I have discussed at length in the past, and obviously one I feel passionately about.
The Double Standard
It’s another double standard in the Michigan Criminal Justice system. If violating the due process rights of defendants through press releases and media coverage is acceptable, confirmed judicial misconduct should be available for public consumption.
Work With Rita — Forensic Consulting
JTC Accountability. Judicial Pattern Analysis. Institutional Forensics.
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Rita Williams works with attorneys and advocates navigating judicial misconduct, JTC processes, and institutional accountability patterns in Michigan courts.
How to cite: Williams, R. [Rita]. (2024, December 30). Oakland County Judge Removed From Docket After Racist and Anti-Gay Statements. Clutch Justice. https://clutchjustice.com/2024/12/30/oakland-county-judge-racist-statements/
