Yesterday, Scott Handley was ready for court.
His supporters took the day off. Some were driving in from Detroit. Others rearranged their schedules, hoping, just this once, to see justice in motion.
Instead, they got nothing.
“They rescheduled my court date AGAIN!” Scott wrote to Clutch Justice.
That judge on the case? None other than Judge Michael Schipper. A name that regularly goes hand in hand with the phrase “judicial gamesmanship.”
This behavior once again reinforces the lack of integrity in the Michigan system.
No Notice. No Court. No Justice.
According to multiple sources, Scott’s day in court didn’t just vanish; it was erased without warning. His counselor broke the news casually: “You’re not going.”
Why? The hearing was canceled that same day at 11:00 AM. But no one told Scott. Worse, no one told his attorney.
She found out from him.
This isn’t a clerical error. This is courtroom sabotage, and it’s a constant occurrence in Judge Schipper’s court.
Supporters Blocked, Again and Again
Scott had people lined up to support him; literally.
Allies drove from Detroit, friends came from his church, people took off work to stand in solidarity.
And all of them were blindsided. Again.
That’s the real cost of delays like this: isolation. exhaustion. attrition. People stop showing up because they’re made to feel like they don’t matter.
That’s not by accident; it’s by design.
No Publicity. No Witnesses. No Record.
Whether it’s last-minute cancellations, procedural slow-walks, or a court schedule that shifts like smoke, the pattern is always the same:
- Delay until the press stops watching
- Distract until the public forgets
- Disappear the defendant’s support until they’re alone
That’s what Schipper wants. No publicity, NO supporters.
Why It Matters
These aren’t just calendar glitches.
These are tactics that erode public trust and violate due process. When a judge allows secret cancellations with no notice to legal counsel or the defendant, it’s more than administrative neglect; it’s a power play.
When it happens repeatedly? It’s abuse.
Scott’s case isn’t an isolated screw-up. It’s part of a growing concern in small town Michigan courts: judges using schedule manipulation to suppress transparency and shield misconduct.
Scott is trying to stay optimistic.
“Maybe this will give us more time for something positive to be put out there for folks to hear or read?”
We agree.
That’s what Clutch Justice is for. To shine a light on the stories they hope you miss. To name the names they hope you won’t remember.
So here’s one to remember:
Judge Michael Schipper. You canceled that hearing. You didn’t tell the attorney. And you didn’t expect family members or human rights advocates to notice or care.
But we noticed.
And Clutch is filing a Judicial Tenure Commission complaint.
Tired of judges getting away with bad behavior? Report Michigan Judicial Misconduct here. It’s fast, free, and ensures accountability and transparency.
What You Can Do
- If you’re a resident, consider a ballot initiative to change the recall process to include judges.
- You can also file your own Judicial Tenure Commission Complaint here.
📬 If you’ve experienced manipulated court scheduling, let us know.
Email: hello@clutchjustice.com
