John McDonough: Michigan Prosecutor Caught Drunk Driving, Facing Gentle Accountability
Direct Answer Former St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough was arrested for OWI in 2020, violated his bond conditions twice,…
Rita Williams
Rita Williams is a Michigan-based judicial oversight analyst and founder of Clutch Justice, an investigative platform focused on court system accountability, sentencing integrity, and SCAO policy. Her work examines how courts, policies, and administrative systems operate in practice, with a focus on where process breaks down and harm is created. Drawing on lived experience and systems-level analysis, she writes to make legal structures more readable, expose institutional gaps, and advocate for reforms grounded in both evidence and human impact. Rita’s writing bridges legal analysis, institutional critique, and public education, with a consistent focus on accountability without losing sight of the people most affected by the justice system.
Protected Class: How Former Michigan Attorney Michael Carroll Beat a Drunk Driving Charge, Kept His Job, and Dodged Accountability
In March 2020, Michael Carroll, then Assistant City Manager and Chief Legal Officer for the City of Portage, Michigan, was…
Allegan County Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker Grants Predator Phone Access While Denying Innocent Parents Custody
Direct Answer Records indicate that Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker granted supervised phone access to a man under active CPS investigation…
How Many Judicial Complaints Are Dismissed Because the Complainant “Didn’t Like the Outcome”?
Direct Answer The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission receives over 600 complaints per year. Fewer than 2% result in public discipline….
Power, Privilege, and a Protection Order That Means Nothing: How a Family Harasses Their Neighbors with State-Sanctioned Impunity
There are appear to be two types of people in rural Michigan: those who follow the law: and those who…
Outdated Press Playbooks: How Police and Prosecutor Media Strategies Undermine Due Process in the Digital Age
Direct Answer The press model law enforcement built in the mid-20th century was a one-sided messaging tool designed for an…
Grand Rapids Attorney Michael O. King, Jr. Disbarred for Severe Misconduct; Ordered to Pay Over $10K in Restitution
Discipline Record Michael Orrin King, Jr. (P71345) of Grand Rapids was disbarred May 15, 2025, following a default judgment by…
No Date, No Justice: Hearing for Former Barry County Sheriff Candidate Richelle Spencer Delayed Indefinitely
The case of Richelle Mariah-Lynne Spencer, a former candidate for Barry County Sheriff, continues to stagnate in Kent County Michigan’s…
Why Did Michigan Judge Christopher Dingell Break Judicial Ethics to Support Karen McDonald?
You’d think a judge would know better. But according to campaign finance records filed in Oakland County, Michigan, Judge Christopher…
Why is Kent County Prosecutor Christopher Becker Playing Laser Tag with Campaign Funds?
You know what I would really like to know? Why did Kent County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Becker use campaign funds…
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