Previously, I promised to track this Judicial Tenure Commission (JTC) complaint in real time, and here we are, reporting another twist that says a lot about how inaccessible and frustrating this process can be.
This week, the complainant received a letter from Lynn Helland, the Executive Director of Michigan’s JTC.
In short? The Commission won’t even look at the allegations of judicial misconduct until they receive an original, notarized “Request for Investigation” form.
So, everything already submitted, the details, the evidence, the statements is back to square one. The JTC has sent the paperwork back, asking the complaintant to do it all again, this time properly notarized and signed in ink.
The Red Tape That Protects Judges
To be clear: yes, Michigan Court Rules do require that a complaint be made “under oath.” But this technicality, demanding a notarized, original signature, is a major barrier to access; an entirely unnecessary procedural hurdle that keeps everyday people from holding judges accountable.
For many people filing these complaints, notarization means taking time off work, finding a notary, paying a fee, and re-mailing everything correctly. And if you’re locked up, disabled, or living in a rural area, it can be an even bigger barrier.
Meanwhile, the judge being accused keeps working, with no record on the books that a complaint was ever attempted.
This Isn’t Over
The complainant has officially resubmitted the complaint; it can be tracked here.
But now the clock resets: the JTC process, which already takes months (if not years), is now back at the beginning.
Here at Clutch Justice, we’ll keep tracking this. Not just for the outcome, but to show how these seemingly small roadblocks keep shielding misconduct behind closed doors. The system counts on people giving up.
We won’t.
Stay tuned.
