The Docket — Issue 06

The Quiet Docket

Week of May 12, 2025 • Difficulty: Moderate

The Scenario

Four sitting judges from across Michigan found themselves under JTC review during the same quarter — none of them aware the others were also under investigation. Each presided in a different county, each faced a different class of complaint, and each received a different disposition. All judges and cases in this puzzle are fictional.

Clues

1. Judge Fairbanks is not from Wayne County.
2. The judge from Calhoun County was cited for courtroom demeanor violations.
3. Judge Merritt received a public censure.
4. The judge who received a consent agreement presided in Emmet County.
5. Judge Fairbanks was investigated for ex parte communications.
6. Judge Calloway is from Wayne County.
7. The judge cited for case management failures was dismissed with a cautionary letter.
8. Judge Osei is not from Emmet County.
9. Judge Merritt presided in Calhoun County.
10. Judge Osei was investigated for failure to recuse.

Your Grid

Solution

• Fairbanks — Ottawa County — Ex parte communications — Private admonishment
• Merritt — Calhoun County — Courtroom demeanor violations — Public censure
• Calloway — Wayne County — Case management failures — Dismissed with cautionary letter
• Osei — Emmet County — Failure to recuse — Consent agreement

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From the editor

The patterns in these puzzles are fictional. The ones in Michigan's courts aren't. Rita maps those for a living.