84th District Court Judge Corey Wiggins Screams at Elderly Attorney

The Incident

A video that surfaced online documents Judge Corey Wiggins of the 84th District Court — covering Wexford and Missaukee counties in Michigan — engaged in a heated exchange with attorney George Serkin, during which Wiggins threatened to hold Serkin in contempt. The video, available here, is the primary public record of the incident. Wiggins subsequently apologized.

Wiggins, a former prosecutor, was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on January 21, 2025 according to a state-issued press release. The incident occurred approximately six months into his first judicial appointment — a period during which judicial temperament and conduct norms are being actively established.

Why Temperament Matters in a New Appointment

Judicial appointments carry an implicit expectation that the appointee can demonstrate the temperament standards the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct requires — including treating all persons before the court with dignity, patience, and respect regardless of the circumstances. A contempt threat directed at an attorney in a manner documented on video as a screaming exchange, six months into a judicial appointment, raises documented questions about whether those standards are being met consistently.

Wiggins did not respond to Clutch Justice’s request for comment. The apology issued following the incident is noted in the public record, but an apology resolves the specific exchange rather than the systemic questions the incident raises about temperament and courtroom conduct more broadly. Whether other incidents have occurred in the months since the appointment is not currently documented by Clutch Justice and is an open question in the investigation.