First Day of Testimony Begins in Murder Trial of Former Grand Rapids Officer Christopher Schurr
By Rita Williams April 28, 2025 2 min read Day One of testimony has begun in the murder trial of…
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.
Judicial Conflicts of Interest in Allegan County: Why Impartiality Matters
When a judge’s spouse leads an organization whose cases regularly appear in that judge’s courtroom, the appearance of impartiality doesn’t…
When the FBI Raids the Wrong House: Why the Supreme Court Must Rein in Federal Power
The FBI raided Trina Martin’s Atlanta home in 2017, found nothing, admitted the wrong address—and faced zero consequences. The Supreme…
First Amendment at Risk in Michigan: When Protest Becomes a Prosecutorial Target
Direct Answer Exercising First Amendment rights in Michigan has become an engage-at-your-own-risk activity for protest participants at the University of…
Separation of Powers: The Safeguard Against Tyranny
With great power comes great responsibility. Uncle Ben, Spiderman The phrase “separation of powers” might sound like political jargon, but…
Balancing the Scales: Understanding Attorney Assignments in Michigan’s Indigent Defense System
Direct Answer Open source investigation — the collection and analysis of publicly available information to uncover hidden truths, verify events,…
How to Conduct Open-Source Investigations: A Beginner’s Guide
Direct Answer Open source investigation — the collection and analysis of publicly available information to uncover hidden truths, verify events,…
Uneven Justice: Examining Prosecutorial Misconduct Cases in Michigan
Direct Answer Michigan ranks last nationally for government transparency — a structural condition that creates fertile ground for prosecutorial misconduct…
The Rule of Law Matters More Now Than Ever. Here’s Why.
Direct Answer The rule of law is not a legal abstraction or a civics classroom concept. It is the structural…
Barry County Defendant Resentenced, Court of Appeals Decision Upheld
Editorial Transparency Clutch Justice has covered Judge Michael Schipper’s sentencing record across multiple cases. All claims about Schipper’s conduct in…
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