In the world of criminal justice, prosecutors are alleged to be the guardians of truth; the ones who rise above political games and courtroom theatrics to make sure justice is served. But in St. Joseph County, Michigan, it’s hard to ignore the question hanging in the air:
What happens when the person enforcing the law is accused of breaking it?
That’s the uncomfortable reality surrounding Deborah Davis, the current elected prosecutor of St. Joseph County.
Let’s Back Up: What Happened?
In early 2024, Davis was fired from her role as assistant prosecutor by then-boss David Marvin. He didn’t mince words. According to internal reports and public statements, he accused Davis of professional misconduct after she allegedly misled Judge Middleton during a bond hearing.
The case centered on a victim who failed to appear in court. Davis reportedly met with the victim and allegedly told her the case was being dismissed. But in court, Davis claimed the victim refused to testify out of fear—prompting the judge to deny bond and keep the defendant behind bars.
Marvin investigated, he fired her, and then he called her “dirty.”
David Marvin, MLIVE
“She should resign,” Marvin said on Thursday, July 3. “I would have a hard time believing justice would be done if I were caught up in the criminal justice system in St. Joseph County with a lying prosecutor.”
The Reprimand… and the Retention
Fast forward to June 2025: The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board accepted a no-contest plea from Davis and issued a public reprimand, concluding she made “materially misleading statements” to the court. The board found that Davis failed to disclose key facts and omitted information that misrepresented the situation. She was ordered to pay fines and received a formal mark on her record.
But here’s the kicker: She kept her law license.
And even more shocking? She kept her job as prosecutor.
After all that, Deborah Davis, the same woman reprimanded for misleading a judge, now leads the very office tasked with prosecuting others for wrongdoing.
Deborah Davis and Judge Middleton both experienced viral video fame during the pandemic through the “Buttf*cker 3000” case and a PPO hearing where the defendant and the victim were both in the same apartment.
No Accountability, Just Optics
The decision to allow Davis to stay in office sends a chilling message to the public: if you’re powerful enough, the rules don’t really apply.
For an average citizen, lying in court is called perjury and it can land you in jail.
But for a prosecutor like Deborah Davis, it’s apparently just cause for a quiet settlement, a fine, and an ethics footnote.
She Says It Was Political
Davis maintains she did nothing wrong. She’s painted the entire controversy as a political hit job by Marvin, who she ran against. She says she never got a chance to defend herself in the internal investigation and agreed to the reprimand only to avoid dragging her office through prolonged legal drama.
I’m not buying it, because politics or not, the facts remain:
- She told a judge one thing.
- The evidence said another.
- The Discipline Board ruled against her.
What This Means for the Public
Davis’s ability to keep her position despite confirmed misconduct erodes trust in the justice system. If prosecutors can mislead judges and face no serious consequences, why should we believe in the fairness of the cases they prosecute?
And what about the people she now supervises? What message does this send to junior prosecutors trying to do the right thing?
It’s not just about one courtroom lie; it’s about a culture of immunity that seems to protect power, not truth.
Pulling it Together
In any other job, lying on the record would be a fireable offense. In St. Joseph County, it’s just another day in court.
Ever had a run-in with Deborah Davis? Submit your story here.
