Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission Sets Trial Dates in Hartig Misconduct Case
The disciplinary case against Kirsten Nielsen Hartig, a judge of Michigan’s 52-4 District Court, has entered a decisive phase. According to…
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.
When Delay Becomes the Decision: Family Court Turnover, Systemic Failure, and the Cost to Children
On paper, Family court is supposed to resolve disputes involving children with urgency, clarity, and evidence. But in practice, some…
Michigan Assistant Prosecutor Michael J. Szappan Reprimanded Following Discovery Failure and Unprofessional Communications
The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board has issued a reprimand to Michael J. Szappan (P68107) of Flushing, Michigan, effective October 7, 2025, following a consent resolution of professional…
The Private Prison Pipeline: How Money Shapes Mass Incarceration Policy
Mass incarceration in the United States is often framed as the result of crime trends, public fear, or political ideology….
Clutch Called It: Ethics Probe Follows Prior Reporting on Oakland County Prosecutor
How an Ethics Probe in the Crumbley Case Exposes the Limits of Prosecutorial Accountability in Michigan Michigan has no shortage…
When Charges Are Declined and Records Disappear: The Megan Moryc Case
In Michigan, a decision to decline criminal charges is often treated as final. But for victims, particularly when the accused…
Attorney Amy Lillian Colston Suspended One Year in Michigan Following Reciprocal Discipline
The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board has ordered a one-year suspension of Amy Lillian Colston (P64742) of Kalamazoo, Michigan, effective October 25, 2025, based on reciprocal discipline stemming…
What Does Money Have to Do With Justice? Everything.
People like to talk about justice as if it starts in a courtroom. It really doesn’t. Justice starts so much…
Keefe Replaced Maruchan With Twisted Noodles and Incarcerated People Are Furious
In many jails and prisons, ramen is not just food. It is currency, comfort, routine, and one of the few…
Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen Ryan Retires Amid Controversy
Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen A. Ryan, who had served on the bench for more than 13 years, has officially retired…
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