The Silence Is the Story
It’s been one week since the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission received a formal complaint against a sitting Michigan judge…and still, no movement. No confirmation of receipt. No acknowledgment. No update. Just silence.
Clutch Justice has been tracking this complaint in real time, offering a transparent look at what happens after a judicial misconduct report is submitted.
Spoiler alert: so far, not much.
This isn’t just about one complaint. It’s about how the process itself is designed to disappear judicial misconduct. The public has no portal, no docket, no tracking number, and no legal right to be informed about the complaint’s progress.
The Real-Time Accountability Experiment Thus Far
Here’s what has happened so far:
- A formal complaint was mailed to the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission.
- It was sent certified and trackable.
- It was delivered.
- And then… nothing.
Most people filing complaints against judges never hear back. Some don’t even know if the JTC received their packet. The lack of transparency isn’t just frustrating; it undermines the already waning public trust in judicial oversight.
By tracking this complaint publicly, we’re asking a very basic question: What happens next?
And unfortunately, the answer appears to be: “Wait.”
Why This Matters
When someone files a complaint about a judge, especially one alleging serious misconduct, they’re putting themselves at risk. They’re often up against powerful systems, protected titles, and retaliatory pressures. It’s a decision that isn’t taken lightly.
The least the JTC can do is acknowledge the effort and pick up the mail.
But in Michigan, there’s no legally required timeline for initial response or investigation. There’s also no online record of open complaints, and no mechanism for public accountability unless the JTC chooses to take action.
But for any of that to happen, they have to pick it up.
What’s Next?
We’ll keep tracking this complaint publicly; step by step. And if you’re reading this wondering whether your own complaint got lost in a bureaucratic void: you’re sadly not alone.
This real-time experiment isn’t just a single case study. It’s a data point in a larger systemic failure to provide real oversight over judges in Michigan. If the system isn’t picking up valid complaints, I think it’s time the public picks up the torch.
